Acholi Cultural Institution to plant 40mln trees to restore land and promote sustainable charcoal production in Northern Uganda

GULU CITY, October 1, 2025 — The Acholi Cultural Institution, in collaboration with the Uganda National Oil Company [UNOC], Operation Wealth Creation [OWC], the National Forestry Authority [NFA], and Kijani Forestry, has launched an ambitious reforestation drive aimed at healing degraded farmland in Northern Uganda. The initiative targets the planting of 40 million tree seedlings across the Acholi Sub-region, with the dual goal of commercial charcoal production and environmental restoration.

The project involves the introduction of fast-growing tree species suitable for sustainable charcoal production. It seeks to strike a balance between economic empowerment and ecological conservation, promoting agroforestry as a viable alternative to destructive charcoal practices that have ravaged Acholi’s natural forests.

In 2023, the President of Uganda issued Executive Order No. 2, banning the cutting of trees for commercial charcoal production in Northern Uganda. This directive followed growing concern from local leaders over the rapid deforestation in Acholi, where forest cover has dramatically declined due to the charcoal trade. This aligns with Article 2 of the Ugandan Constitution, which mandates the protection of the environment for future generations.

Since the end of the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] insurgency, which displaced thousands in the Acholi Sub-region, the area has witnessed a sharp increase in forest depletion. Many locals, in search of livelihood opportunities, turned to charcoal production, exacerbating environmental degradation.

Researcher Arthur Owor of the Centre for African Studies reports that an estimated 80,000 hectares of forest are cleared annually in Uganda for charcoal and timber, up from 50,000 hectares in 2004. In Gulu and Amuru districts alone, over half the forest cover has been lost. Gulu district reportedly lost 38,700 hectares between 2010 and 2021, according to Global Forest Watch, with an estimated 5,000 bags of charcoal produced daily.

David Livingstone Amone, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry at the Acholi Cultural Institution, confirmed the partnerships with UNOC, OWC, NFA, and Kijani Forestry to mobilise tree planting for commercial purposes.

“In this project, we aim to generate biochar from charcoal waste, which can be used to enrich soils for farming. We will also produce clean biogas energy from these trees,” Amone explained.

He added that a demonstration farm of 10 acres with 500 trees has already been established in Paicho Subcounty, Gulu district. Each of Acholi’s 57 chiefdoms will be encouraged to plant at least 10 hectares of trees, promoting environmental restoration and poverty reduction.

Nurseries will be set up across East and West Acholi to ensure the consistent supply of seedlings to local farmers. Community mobilisation efforts will extend to schools, churches, and other institutions to foster a culture of reforestation.

Amone further highlighted that the initiative will go beyond commercial trees. “We will also advocate for the planting of fruit and medicinal trees, many of which have been lost. Traditional Acholi medicine heavily relies on indigenous tree species,” he noted.

Paramount Chief David Onen Acana II thanked all partner organisations for supporting long-term solutions to deforestation in Northern Uganda. He urged continued support for the initiative, which he said would strengthen local engagement in sustainable charcoal production.

“This project will change the perception that Acholi has vast empty land for exploitation. Our land is not vacant, it is ancestral. Replanting will restore the spiritual and cultural significance of certain trees and areas,” Acana said.

He criticised past forest exploitation in Acholi, noting that trees along riverbanks and sacred hills, considered homes of ancestral spirits, were cut down for commercial charcoal. “We must replant indigenous trees to restore these sacred sites,” he added.

Michael Tebere, Director of Kijani Forestry, said his organisation has planted over 17 million trees in Northern Uganda since 2019. “Our goal is to eliminate the barriers that prevent rural farmers from participating in reforestation. We provide nursery hubs and seedlings to promote carbon markets and environmental restoration,” he said.

Kijani’s restoration efforts focus on building biodiverse tropical forests with native species that contribute to carbon capture and ecological resilience.

Sylvia Damalie Owori, Director of Operations at the Office of Operation Wealth Creation [OWC], said the programme has supported farmers in 112 districts since 2015. Inputs such as seeds, seedlings, livestock, and modern agricultural equipment have been distributed to smallholder farmers.

“Over 68% of the population previously outside the money economy have been empowered to adopt new farming methods. Operation Wealth Creation is now ready to support this tree planting initiative fully, financially and technically,” Owori stated.

She revealed that OWC has allocated Shs 5.5 billion for coffee planting on one million hectares in Acholi and registered 10,000 farmers for this programme. “The commercial tree planting programme will run concurrently with other agricultural initiatives in the sub-region,” she said.

Michael Ojaa, Regional Manager at the National Forestry Authority, said the NFA will provide free seedlings to farmers and ensure that the tree planting project delivers tangible economic benefits.

Peter Kenneth Bintu, Head of National Content at UNOC, reaffirmed financial support to cultural institutions involved in the project. He emphasised the integration of traditional values into environmental conservation efforts.

“Our aim is to blend indigenous knowledge with modern climate action strategies through tree planting, thus reviving lost forest cover and cultural heritage,” he stated.

Uganda’s forest cover has declined from 23.8 percent in 1990 to just 9.9 percent by 2017, according to the National State of the Environment Report [2018–2019]. The 2019–2020 National Household Survey reported that 73 percent of Ugandans rely on firewood for cooking, while 21 percent use charcoal. The United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] estimates that Uganda loses 1.8 percent of its forest land each year.

The Acholi Subregion’s reforestation drive offers a hopeful path toward restoring the environment while empowering local communities economically through sustainable practices.

https://thecooperator.news/farmers-urged-to-preserve-cashew-trees-as-soroti-factory-nears/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news