HOIMA, April 25, 2025 — The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Limited [EACOP Ltd.], in partnership with the Hoima Catholic Diocese, has launched an ambitious tree planting campaign across the oil-rich Bunyoro Sub-region as part of broader efforts to combat climate change and restore degraded ecosystems.
The campaign was officially launched on Friday at Muteeme Catholic Parish in Kiziranfumbi Sub-county, Kikuube district. Speaking at the event, EACOP Ltd.’s Deputy Managing Director, John Bosco Habumugisha, said the initiative aims to restore tree cover in the 10 Ugandan districts through which the pipeline traverses, including Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Mubende, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kyotera, and Rakai, before continuing into Tanzania.
Habumugisha revealed that the campaign will see over 150,000 trees planted along the Ugandan section of the pipeline, with a long-term target of 200 million trees over five years, or approximately 40 million trees annually. The campaign will prioritise the planting of indigenous and fruit-bearing trees to support biodiversity, improve air quality, and enhance community livelihoods.
He acknowledged generous land contributions to the initiative, including 70 acres from Hoima Catholic Diocese at Munteme (Itohya Forest), 70 acres from the Daughters of Mary [Bannabikira] in Masaka, 100 acres from the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Ggogonya, and 100 acres from the Buganda Kingdom.
“Planting trees is more than just an environmental effort; it’s an investment in our future,” said Habumugisha. “Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting biodiversity.”
He emphasised that the campaign is a key component of EACOP’s broader socio-economic investment strategy, which also includes programs focused on environmental sustainability and renewable energy.
On behalf of the Hoima Catholic Diocese, Bishop Vicente Kirabo, represented by Fr. Dominic Ndugwa, welcomed the initiative, calling it a meaningful act of stewardship and solidarity.
“We are gathered here not just to plant trees, but to sow seeds of hope, responsibility, and unity,” said Fr. Ndugwa. “This initiative is a powerful reminder that development and environmental care must go hand in hand. The oil and gas sector and environmental conservation need not be at odds, they can and should be partners.”
Fr. Ndugwa underscored the Church’s commitment to environmental protection, citing Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls for a global ecological conversion and care for our common home.
“As the Church, our mission is not only to preach the Gospel but to live it through concrete action. Planting trees is a way of answering God’s call to protect His creation,” he added.
Also present at the event was Hope Asiimwe, Regional Forest Officer at the Ministry of Water and Environment, who welcomed the campaign as a timely intervention. She expressed concern over the rapid loss of forest cover in Uganda, noting that the country loses an estimated 122,000 hectares annually.
“In 1990, Uganda’s forest cover stood at 24 percent, but today it has declined to just 12.7 percent. This trend is alarming,” she said, linking the forest loss to increasing climate disasters such as prolonged droughts, floods, and strong winds.
Asiimwe called on religious, cultural, and community leaders to mobilize citizens in support of environmental conservation, stressing that collective action is essential to reverse current trends.
She also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts, including a national tree planting campaign launched in 2020 that has already seen over 74 million trees planted.
Peter Banura, Kikuube District LCV Chairman, applauded the initiative, stating that it comes at a critical time when the region is experiencing severe deforestation due to oil and gas activities.
“The development of the oil and gas sector has led to the depletion of natural forests. This initiative is a crucial step toward ecological restoration and sustainability in the region,” Banura said.
The tree planting campaign represents a unique collaboration between government, faith-based institutions, cultural leaders, and the private sector, working together to safeguard Uganda’s natural heritage for future generations.
https://thecooperator.news/shs-1-2bln-earmarked-for-tree-planting-in-districts-hosting-eacop/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 4
