METGE Joins ROOTS 2025 to Fight Climate Change and Restore Uganda’s Forests

METGE Joins ROOTS 2025 to Fight Climate Change and Restore Uganda’s Forests

Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) joined the Ministry of Water and Environment and other partners to commemorate this year’s National Tree Planting Day under the theme “Revive, Restore, Sustain: Indigenous Species for Uganda’s Future.”

The annual event, held at Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja City, was graced by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment, Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, among other dignitaries. The celebration forms part of the Running Out of Trees (ROOTs) Campaign, a national campaign that mobilizes Ugandans to plant at least one tree per citizen every year.

In her keynote address, the Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja emphasized that tree planting is not merely a ceremonial activity, but a vital step toward building ecological and economic resilience in the face of the climate crisis.

“This year’s theme aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV, which prioritize environmental sustainability as a key pillar for socio-economic transformation,” she noted.

Over the last decade, Uganda has made commendable progress — forest cover has risen from 9% in 2015 to 12.6% in 2024, thanks to collective restoration efforts under initiatives like ROOTs, community tree planting programs, and partnerships with organizations such as METGE.

As a key restoration partner under the ROOTs campaign, METGE continues to contribute significantly to Uganda’s forest and landscape restoration agenda. Through community-driven reforestation, agroforestry, and the promotion of indigenous species across the Mount Elgon landscape, METGE has distributed over 25 million trees since its inception — directly supporting Uganda’s goal to restore 2.5 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge and AFR100 frameworks.

“METGE’s participation in the National Tree Planting Day demonstrates our unwavering commitment to combating climate change and promoting sustainable land use through tree growing, reforestation, and community empowerment,” said Micheal Sunday, the programme Manager.

This year’s ROOTs edition placed strong emphasis on restoring indigenous tree species, recognizing their vital role in supporting biodiversity, enhancing soil fertility, and storing long-term carbon. The Busoga sub region, which has suffered significant deforestation due to sugarcane expansion and urbanization, was chosen as the host area to symbolize national commitment to reversing land degradation and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Permanent Secretary Mr. Alfred Okidi urged all citizens to nurture the seedlings they plant, turning short-term commitments into lasting forests.

“Let us move from planting trees to restoring ecosystems, and from commitments on paper to results on the ground,” he said.

The Ministry of Water and Environment also announced that, starting next year, the National Tree Planting Day will be gazetted as an official annual celebration — ensuring countrywide participation, real-time mapping, and monitoring of all planted trees.