By Mulengera Reporters
Equity Bank Uganda, in partnership with My Tree Initiative Uganda, has launched the Equi Green Schools Programme, an ambitious environmental initiative targeting the planting, protection and nurturing of 200,000 trees across Uganda by December 2027.
The programme was officially launched at Nakanyonyi Secondary School in Mukono District, where Equity Bank, My Tree Initiative, students and other stakeholders jointly planted 3,500 trees, marking the beginning of a multi-year campaign to turn schools into hubs for environmental conservation and climate education.
The initiative will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, running through the end of 2026, will see 50,000 trees planted and protected across 25 schools in 10 districts. In 2027, the programme will scale up with an additional 150,000 trees planted through school orchards, creating long-term environmental and educational benefits for participating communities.
The partnership builds on an earlier collaboration between Equity Bank and My Tree Initiative, which resulted in the planting of 1,500 trees at Kyasanku Hill College in Mpigi District.
Hon. Rtd. Gen. Katumba Wamala, Chief Planter and Minister for Public Service, commended the partnership, calling for greater private-sector participation in environmental restoration and climate action.
“This programme is about restoring our environment. The environment has a way of revenging because we have severely disturbed it; what you see in this extreme sunshine is nature fighting back,” Katumba said.
He described the partnership between Equity Bank and My Tree Initiative as an example for other private-sector players to emulate in protecting Uganda’s environment.
Speaking at the launch, Gift Shoko, Managing Director of Equity Bank Uganda, said the programme goes beyond simply putting seedlings in the ground, emphasizing the importance of involving young people in environmental action.
“This is more than a tree-planting initiative. It is a commitment to the future of our environment, our communities and, most importantly, the young people who will inherit the Uganda we build today,” Shoko said.
He added that engaging students directly in tree planting and conservation would help turn climate action into a practical experience that young people can understand and take ownership of.
“Economic transformation and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand,” Shoko said. “Our responsibility is not simply to plant trees, but to plant, protect, and nurture them to thrive for generations to come.”
Enjer Ashiraf, Executive Director of My Tree Initiative, said partnerships are critical to achieving meaningful environmental impact.
“If you want to go far, you go with others. We are thankful to Equity Bank for their generous partnership in spearheading this annual Green Schools Programme,” Enjer said.
He noted that the bank’s previous support had enabled the planting of 1,500 trees at Kyasanku Hill College and welcomed the renewed focus on involving students in hands-on environmental restoration.
At Nakanyonyi Secondary School, Head Teacher George Wateta described the initiative as a milestone for the institution.
“We believe education goes beyond the classroom, and by engaging our students in environmental restoration, we are nurturing responsible citizens who appreciate the value of protecting nature,” Wateta said.
The Green Schools Programme comes against the backdrop of Uganda’s declining forest cover, which has fallen from about 24% to below 9% over the past several decades, driven by deforestation, agricultural expansion and other unsustainable practices.
By focusing on schools, the programme seeks to integrate environmental restoration with education, creating spaces where students can learn about climate change, biodiversity and conservation while actively contributing to the restoration of their surroundings.
The initiative also supports Equity Group’s regional target of planting 35 million trees across East Africa under its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (AARP).
Equity Bank Uganda says its environmental efforts form part of a broader commitment to sustainable economic transformation. Over the past five years, the bank has supported the planting of more than 60,000 trees, provided over UGX 34 billion in climate financing, and supported more than 800 green enterprises to scale their businesses, access markets and contribute to sustainable community development.
With the Equi Green Schools Programme now underway, the partners are positioning Uganda’s schools not only as centres of learning, but also as active participants in restoring the country’s environment — one tree at a time.(For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
