Over 50 SMEs Complete Green Jobs Bootcamps
What the report says
More than 50 small and medium enterprises from Kampala Metropolitan, Busoga and West Nile have completed three-day business growth bootcamps focused on Uganda’s green and circular economy, according to Nile Post. The sessions were held under the WeWork — Green and Decent Jobs for Youth project, delivered through The Good Green Business Accelerator and implemented by SHONA Group with Enabel and the Government of Uganda. Funding came from the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium.
The report says the programme drew businesses from a larger pool of applicants working in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable farming, smart irrigation, sustainable fashion, eco-tourism, waste management, green construction, green manufacturing and digital marketplaces for green materials. Organisers said the initiative is meant to help SMEs build stronger operations, improve access to finance and connect with talent, while supporting job creation for young people and better use of resources.
Nile Post also noted that SMEs make up a large share of Uganda’s private sector and industrial output, which underscores why efforts to strengthen them are being treated as important for the wider economy. In the article, SHONA Group said the goal is to help entrepreneurs become more deliberate about building green businesses rather than doing so by chance.
Participants said the bootcamps gave them practical skills, new ideas and networking opportunities. The next phase will include continued advisory support, capacity building and possible matching grants, including wage support for newly hired young workers for up to six months.
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Wakiso District Local Government has donated 50,000 tree seedlings to 52 farmers as part of efforts to increase tree cover, restore degraded land and mitigate the effects of climate change in the rapidly urbanising district. The seedlings were distributed through the district’s Forestry Department under a tree-planting programme aimed at encouraging farmers, households, institutions and community groups to plant trees during every rainy season. The initiative comes amid increasing urbanisation in Wakiso, which has led to the cutting down of trees to make way for residential and commercial developments. Speaking during the handover of the seedlings at the district tree nursery, Wakiso District Chairperson Eng. Ian Kyeyune said the growing demand for timber and furniture products makes tree planting essential if the district is to protect its environment while meeting the needs of its expanding population. “It is impossible to avoid the demand for timber and furniture given the high rate of construction in Wakiso and the surrounding areas. This gives us a ready market for tree products,” Kyeyune said. He said planting more trees at household level, through farmer groups and institutions, is the most sustainable way of replacing trees cut down for construction, furniture and other purposes. Kyeyune urged more farmers to join the programme, particularly those living on the Bussi Islands, where he said environmental degradation remains a concern. “We need more farmers to come on board and become ambassadors for forest restoration. The trees we cut must be replaced if we are to protect our environment for future generations,” he said. The district chairperson also cautioned beneficiaries against selling the seedlings, urging them instead to nurture the trees as a long-term source of income. “Do not sell these seedlings. Nurture them and turn them into a business. In the long run, these trees can provide income while also helping us restore the environment,” Kyeyune said. The programme is also intended to improve household incomes, with farmers expected to grow trees for commercial purposes. The seedlings distributed include Mugavu, which is also beneficial to banana production; Kilundu; improved Muvule varieties used for furniture production; and exotic Eucalyptus varieties from South Africa, among others. Wakiso District Forestry Officer Harriet Nankya said tree planting is increasingly important as the district continues to experience rapid urban growth. Nankya warned that failure to increase tree cover could expose communities to some of the environmental challenges being experienced in other parts of the world. “Wakiso is one of the fastest-growing urban districts, and tree planting will help protect our people from some of the calamities being experienced in different parts of the world, especially in Europe and the Far East,” Nankya said. She encouraged farmers to seek guidance from forestry extension officers in their respective areas to ensure that the seedlings are properly planted, maintained and managed. The district says it intends to continue distributing tree seedlings during the rainy seasons as part of its broader efforts to promote environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods in Wakiso.Nile Post
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