By Guest Writer
Centenary Bank, the Catholic Church and Good Forests Foundation Uganda (GFU) have extended their partnership on environmental restoration to Kabale Diocese where they are planting 12,000 trees across the diocese. This is part of a five-year programme that will support the establishment and management of 500,000 trees across Catholic Dioceses in Uganda.
The initiative forms part of the Cente Green Programme, launched in August 2026 as a key component of Centenary Bank’s sustainability agenda. The programme aims to support the planting and management of 100,000 trees annually over five years, contributing to landscape restoration and the responsible management of natural resources.
Speaking during the tree planting exercise at Nyamwegabira Parish in Kanungu District, Mr. Benon Nsimenta, Centenary Bank Kihihi Branch Manager, thanked the Kabale Catholic Diocese for choosing Nyamwegabira Parish as pioneer beneficiaries saying that as Centenary Bank, they will ensure that the project is well implemented as part of the bank’s Environmental, Social and Governance agenda and broader commitment to sustainable and responsible banking.
“At Centenary Bank, we are a values-based Bank that recognises the critical connection between financial services, businesses, communities and the environment in which they operate. This partnership demonstrates how private sector financing, faith-based institutions and local technical organizations can work together to deliver woodlot restoration across the country” Nsimenta said.
Good Forest Foundation Uganda will provide technical guidance on site selection, appropriate tree species, planting, establishment, maintenance and monitoring to improve tree survival and ensure that the investment in the programme delivers lasting environmental benefits.
Mr. Ronald Mwikirize, Forest Field Coordinator, Good Forests Foundation said GFU brings extensive experience in community-led reforestation, agroforestry and sustainable land management across Central, Eastern and Western Uganda.
“We are going to provide technical guidance on site selection, species selection, planting, establishment, maintenance and monitoring which will ensure tree survival so that this partnership investment translates into long term environment restoration,” he said.
The Catholic Church will provide land and mobilise communities and church members to participate in the establishment and management of the woodlots. Twelve Catholic Dioceses are participating in the programme in 2026: Kasese, Fort Portal, Kiyinda-Mityana, Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Jinja, Tororo, Arua, Nebbi, Moroto and Kotido.
The Vicar General of Kabale Catholic Diocese, Msgr John Vianney Sunday, hailed the good work being done by Centenary Bank to restore the environment and support communities, noting that caring for creation is a shared responsibility entrusted to humanity by God.
“As a Church, we have a responsibility to care for the environment God has entrusted to us and restore areas that have been degraded. We have therefore set aside 30 acres of land within our diocese for tree planting. We will also mobilise communities to plant, protect and nurture these trees to ensure they grow and contribute to a healthier environment for future generations,” he said.
He called upon Christians and other community members to actively embrace the tree-planting initiative, urging them to go beyond planting trees to ensuring their survival through consistent care and protection.
In the whole of Western region, about 38,000 trees (Fort Portal 6,000, Mbarara 12,000, Kabale 12,000, and Kasese 8,000) will be planted this season as part of the 100,000 trees being planting across the country.
Together, Centenary Bank and partners aim to restore approximately 213 acres of land in 2026 through the establishment of well-managed woodlots using appropriate indigenous tree species.
ABOUT CENTENARY BANK: Centenary Bank is the leading commercial microfinance Bank in Uganda, serving over 3.4 million customers through to 9,000 Cente Agents, 81 branches and 214 ATMs across the country. The bank also has various digital channels including CenteMobile, CenteAgent, CenteOnline and CenteVisa debit and prepaid cards. Its mission is “To provide appropriate financial services, especially microfinance to all people, in a sustainable manner and in accordance with the law.”
ABOUT GOOD FORESTS FOUNDATION UGANDA: Good Forests Foundation Uganda (GFU) is a locally registered Ugandan organisation working on reforestation, agroforestry, sustainable value chains and landscape restoration.
GFU builds on years of forestry and community-based restoration experience in Uganda and works with farmers, communities, government institutions, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to develop practical and sustainable forest and climate solutions. The organisation’s work spans Central, Eastern and Western Uganda.
THE UGANDA EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE (UEC): The Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) is the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy in Uganda The episcopal Conference of Uganda was founded in 1960 and comprises all the Catholic Bishops of Uganda working in unity to ensure the fulfilment of the mission of the Church in the country. Through the schools, universities, hospitals, and health centers operated by the Church, Christ’s mission of providing education, healthcare, and service is fulfilled. The Tree growing initiative is an extension of the UECs mission to “To promote Integral Human Development in the Whole world Inspired by the Gospel Values.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
