NFA, Centenary Bank join forces to restore Masindi Forest Reserve

MASINDI, May 13, 2025 – – The National Forestry Authority [NFA], in partnership with Centenary Bank and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, has launched an ambitious campaign to restore the degraded Masindi Central Forest Reserve by planting at least 20 hectares of trees.

The initiative was officially launched at Nyangahya Cell in Masindi Municipality days ago, following Centenary Bank’s commitment of Shs 60 million towards the restoration of this vital natural reserve, which has suffered severe encroachment over the years.

As part of the campaign, the NFA aims to plant at least 40,000 trees in 2025, covering the 20 hectares of land currently left bare.

Speaking at the launch of the three-year partnership, Centenary Bank Managing Director, Fabian Kasi, commended the NFA for choosing a reserve that is not only ecologically significant but also central to the well-being of the people in Masindi. He highlighted that the initiative aligns with the bank’s broader environmental sustainability goals.

“Partnering with the NFA gives real weight to what we at Centenary Bank are striving to achieve through our tree-growing efforts. Over the years, we’ve made a conscious commitment to improving the environment we operate in. So far, we’ve planted 70,000 trees across Uganda, and today’s effort is another step in our ongoing journey to build a greener, more sustainable Uganda,” Kasi said.

The Acting Executive Director of the NFA, Stuart Maniraguha, applauded Centenary Bank’s support in combating deforestation across the country.

“Together with Centenary Bank, we are proud to be restoring one of the most important green belts for biodiversity in Uganda. Through such partnerships, we have restored 25,000 hectares of forest land over the past five years. Our focus remains on restoring degraded Central Forest Reserves, conducting boundary surveys and demarcation, promoting collaborative forest management [CFM], producing and supplying seedlings, and establishing plantations to reduce pressure on natural forests,” he explained.

Maniraguha also urged NFA field officers to be highly vigilant in protecting the newly planted trees to ensure their growth and integration into surrounding communities.

“Planting trees is just the first step. The real task lies in ensuring they thrive, well protected, nurtured, and integrated into the lives of the communities around them,” he noted.

Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Andrew Byakutaga who was the Chief Guest while addressing the gathering at the forest restoration event, noted that the initiative aligns closely with the Kingdom’s broader plans for managing natural resources.

He emphasised that such work cannot be done alone and acknowledged the importance of strong partnerships with institutions like Centenary Bank and the National Forestry Authority.

According to Global Forest Watch, Uganda lost 37,600 hectares of natural forest in 2023 alone, underscoring the urgency of accelerating efforts to combat deforestation and restore the nation’s forest cover.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Centenary Bank allocates 2 percent of its annual profits to community initiatives. In 2024, the bank committed Shs 5.8 billion to various causes, including stakeholder engagement, support for the Catholic Church’s social mission, health, education, financial literacy, and environmental conservation.

Masindi Central Forest Reserve is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including several endemic and endangered species. It also serves as a critical carbon sink, a reliable water catchment area for the region, and plays a key role in combating the impacts of climate change.

https://thecooperator.news/nfa-arrests-own-staff-in-mabira-forest-deforestation-crackdown/

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