By KT Reporter
Alebtong District has launched a major environmental restoration campaign aimed at reviving degraded forest reserves, with more than 20,000 tree seedlings planted on the first day of the exercise. The campaign was officially flagged off on Tuesday at Te-Iconga Forest Reserve in Aloi Town Council, where district leaders and community members planted 20,312 seedlings as part of the district’s reforestation plan for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Te-Iconga Forest Reserve covers 54 acres, with 32.5 acres already earmarked for immediate restoration. District officials say the initiative is part of wider efforts to align with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan and Vision 2040, both of which prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource management.Speaking during the launch, Alebtong District Chief Administrative Officer Franco Olaboro described environmental conservation as a shared responsibility, urging communities to protect public natural resources for future generations.
Olaboro, who has since been transferred to Kalaki District, also emphasized the need to involve school-going children in environmental protection activities. He said every school in Alebtong should prioritize tree planting and environmental conservation initiatives.Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Athanance Kalyedara revealed that Alebtong has seven local forest reserves, although restoration efforts have so far started in only three reserves, including Te-Iconga, Te-Iponga, and another in Alebtong Town Council.Kalyedara reassured residents that the project is not intended to grab community land, but rather to restore degraded ecosystems while allowing communities to benefit from the trees planted.
Authorities noted that Te-Iconga Forest Reserve has faced long-standing boundary disputes dating back to the insurgency period, when some communities settled within protected forest land. Ronald Otim, the LC3 Chairperson of Aloi Town Council, said confusion over the reserve’s boundaries persisted between 1996 and 2018 due to poor handling by previous authorities.
District leaders say the situation improved after officials rediscovered official boundary documents, paving the way for proper mapping and restoration planning. Community members and local leaders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward environmental recovery and improved livelihoods.Okello Wilfred, the LC1 Chairperson of Te-Iconga B Cell, urged residents to take ownership of the project and protect the restored forest reserve. Meanwhile, Okii Jago Francis, a descendant of one of the original land donors, expressed support for the restoration exercise, saying the family has no objection to the government’s plans.
Education officials are also pushing for schools to actively participate in environmental conservation by encouraging learners to plant trees. The Resident District Commissioner warned that economic progress is meaningless without a healthy environment capable of sustaining human life.
Alebtong District is home to several central forest reserves, including Adero, Awei, Amugu, Angetta, and Aloi. District Chairperson David Kennedy Odongo described the restoration exercise as a critical intervention in protecting the district’s ecological future and combating climate change.
Odongo also proposed distributing some seedlings directly to households to encourage tree planting beyond gazetted forest reserves.
Authorities now face the challenge of ensuring the newly planted trees are protected and nurtured, with district leaders calling for collective responsibility from communities to guarantee the success of the restoration campaign.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
