Uganda Environmentalist Pushes for Tree Planting Law

Uganda could soon require every construction project to include trees by law, a move environmentalists say is critical to reversing the country's rapid loss of green spaces.

Ashiraf Enjer Ddumba, Executive Director of My Tree Initiative, is pushing for mandatory tree planting in all development approvals. Speaking at a tree-planting event at Kitukutwe Primary School in Gayaza, he explained that voluntary efforts are no longer enough to protect Uganda's shrinking forests and wetlands.

"We need stronger legal frameworks so that anyone constructing must also protect the environment and allocate space for trees," Ddumba said. His organization has planted nearly 3 million trees over six years, working with partners like Diamond Trust Bank and the Ministry of Water and Environment.

The proposal would require all infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, hospitals, and private developments, to designate space for trees in their approved plans. Ddumba argues this shift from voluntary action to legal obligation is essential as concrete replaces natural green spaces in rapidly expanding cities.

Wetland destruction remains a critical concern. Despite existing legal protections, developers continue filling wetlands with soil to create building land, undermining flood control, water purification, and climate regulation. Ddumba called for heavier penalties and consistent monitoring to stop illegal wetland conversion.

The Ripple Effect

The initiative prioritizes schools as environmental education centers, believing today's students will become tomorrow's environmentally conscious decision makers. At Kitukutwe Primary School, 300 fruit trees including mango, jackfruit, and soursop were planted in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Namugongo.

Head teacher Sarah Kabonge welcomed the donation of 600 trees, noting that tree planting improves learning conditions and student wellbeing. "We are having a tree planting initiative so that we can have good health and tree shades," she said.

However, Ddumba warned that tree-planting efforts risk being overwhelmed by the scale of environmental destruction. Urban areas are losing available land so rapidly that reforestation activities are increasingly shifting away from cities where they're needed most.

The call for legal reform reflects a broader recognition that Uganda's environmental protection must evolve beyond awareness campaigns to enforceable standards integrated throughout development approval processes. Success will require coordination between environmental regulators and local authorities without political interference.

With climate impacts like flooding and unpredictable rainfall already affecting communities, Uganda's push to make tree planting a legal requirement could set a powerful example for other rapidly developing nations.