Wakiso District Distributes 50,000 Tree Seedlings to 52 Farmers to Boost Environmental Conservation.
What the report says
Wakiso District Local Government said its Forestry Department has distributed 50,000 tree seedlings to 52 farmers in an effort to expand tree cover, support environmental conservation and help households earn income. The handover took place at the district tree nursery, according to the district’s Oct. 4, 2026 report, and was described as part of an ongoing programme carried out during rainy seasons to improve planting success.
The seedlings included Mugavu, Kilundu, improved Muvule for furniture production and several Eucalyptus varieties. The district said the mix was chosen to support both restoration of degraded areas and commercial tree growing, reflecting pressure on wood supplies linked to construction and furniture demand in Wakiso and nearby areas.
District Chairperson Eng. Ian Kyeyune urged households, farmer groups and institutions to plant more trees to replace those cut down for timber and related uses. He also encouraged more farmers, including those on Bussi Islands, to join the programme and called on beneficiaries to keep the seedlings rather than sell them. District Forestry Officer Harriet Nankya said tree planting is becoming more important as urban growth increases pressure on natural resources and climate resilience.
The district’s broader message was that tree planting should involve communities, farmers and institutions working with forestry staff. In general, such programmes are often used by local governments to combine environmental restoration with small-scale commercial forestry, though the specific results of this initiative were not provided in the source material.
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Wakiso gives 50,000 tree seedlings to farmers to boost forest coverNile Post
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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