The demand was made by the district committees on Finance, Planning, Administration and Statutory Bodies following an impromptu inspection of the Te-Iconga and Aloi forest reserves, where restoration activities were carried out earlier this year under the 2025/2026 financial year budget.
The committee found that only about 35 per cent of the planted trees had survived, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the project and the utilisation of public funds.
Oguti Ashraf Badru, the chairperson of the committee and district councillor representing Amugo Town Council, said the inspection uncovered several shortcomings, including tree planting in bushy areas without proper site preparation, inadequate watering and maintenance, and the apparent failure to apply appropriate chemicals and other essential silvicultural management practices.
The committee also cited inadequate security measures to protect the newly planted trees from destruction.
The committee has directed the district’s accounting and implementing officers to provide a comprehensive report, supported by relevant documentation, explaining the planning, implementation, supervision and utilisation of funds allocated to the reforestation project in accordance with the approved budget.
It also tasked the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Athanance Kalyedara, with submitting a detailed report addressing concerns over possible financial mismanagement, negligence or breaches of the law in the implementation of the programme.
The reforestation campaign was launched last year at the 54-acre Te-Iconga Forest Reserve in Aloi Town Council, where district leaders and community members planted 20,312 pine seedlings as part of the district’s 2025/2026 reforestation programme.
Responding to the concerns, Kalyedara attributed the poor survival rate of the trees to prolonged drought caused by climate change.
He explained that the district had planned to restore seven local forest reserves, beginning with Te-Iconga, Te-Iponga and another reserve in Alebtong Town Council. However, the prolonged dry conditions have significantly undermined the restoration efforts, making it difficult to revive degraded ecosystems and achieve the district’s environmental conservation targets.
The tree-planting initiative forms part of the district’s contribution to the implementation of Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and Vision 2040, both of which prioritise environmental conservation, restoration of degraded ecosystems and the sustainable management of natural resources-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
