By KT Reporter
The Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II, has urged his people to stop using the region’s brutal two-decade civil war as an excuse for destroying Acholi’s fragile tree cover.
Speaking at the launch of a major tree-planting drive at the Acholi Cultural Institution palace in Gulu City, Rwot Acana decried the widespread cutting of trees for charcoal and firewood, a practice many justify as part of their post-war survival.
“Because we hold little respect for our culture, we have found ourselves where we are. Most of the time, we blame it on the war. But the war has been over for 20 years, and that should no longer explain our failure to care for ourselves and our environment,” he said.
The Acholi Sub-region, which endured nearly two decades of conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and government forces, is now confronting rapid forest loss. Rwot Acana warned that the destruction of trees is accelerating climate change and threatening livelihoods, from farming to water sources.
He called on every household to embrace reforestation and alternative energy sources, stressing that environmental protection is a collective duty and noted that the ongoing tree-planting campaign is aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and ensuring that Acholi regains its ecological balance.
“As we launch tree planting in Acholi today, I want us to know that tree planting is a rewarding activity that benefits the environment and the ecosystem, and if we look deeper, I think we human beings are the primary beneficiaries and benefit a lot more than other organisms,” he said.
Rwot Acana also reminded the community that tree planting is not just about environmental conservation but also about ensuring the creation of wealth in the future and better health.
“Let us plant more trees for wealth, let us plant more trees for our fellow human beings, let us plant more trees for the earth. The earth needs more trees, and we should do our part to contribute to the global climate and others,” he said.
The campaign, backed by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) through its Go Green initiative, aims to plant 10 million trees across all 57 Acholi chiefdoms. The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has already donated 5,000 seedlings to kick-start the effort.
Martin Okumu, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Acholi Cultural Institution, said the first five acres of trees are being planted in Patuda village, Paicho Sub-county, Gulu District, focusing on indigenous species to revive ecosystems long stripped by war and overuse.
Sylvia Owori, Director of Operations at Operation Wealth Creation, praised the initiative as an investment in resilience. “Every tree is a gift for future generations, guarding against soil erosion, sheltering wildlife, absorbing carbon, and offering shade,” she noted. “Tree planting strengthens our communities and safeguards biodiversity.”
Kenneth Peter Bintu, UNOC’s Head of National Content, described the partnership as a way to balance Uganda’s oil development with environmental responsibility. “By planting trees, we offset the carbon from drilling, transport, and other oil activities, while restoring the environment,” he said.
Uganda’s oil and gas industry is projected to inject over USD 20 billion into the economy in the next five years and expand employment from 90,000 to more than 150,000 jobs. Bintu stressed that Acholi communities must share in these benefits while helping curb climate impacts.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
