Alebtong, Uganda | Alebtong District has embarked on an ambitious reafforestation programme aimed at restoring degraded forest reserves and strengthening environmental conservation efforts.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mathias Lutwama, was officially launched on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in collaboration with the office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the LCV Chairperson, and the district’s Natural Resources Department.
The project commenced with the planting of 20,000 pine tree seedlings in Te-Ichonga Forest Reserve in Aloi Town Council, covering 32 acres and Te-Iponga Forest Reserve in Akura Sub-county, spanning 10 acres. District leaders said the exercise will gradually extend to the remaining five forest reserves, bringing the total to seven reserves targeted across all 14 administrative units, including sub-counties and town councils.
Lutwama noted that the reafforestation campaign is intended to advance ecological conservation, enhance environmental security, and align with national efforts to protect natural resources. He revealed that the tree seedlings were procured by the district following council approval and in line with established procedures.
He expressed concern over the widespread destruction of forest reserves in the district, attributing it to deforestation, encroachment, and unregulated construction activities. To deepen community involvement, part of the seedlings has been distributed to residents for planting at the household level.
Lutwama said that the community had embraced the initiative after understanding the importance of environmental conservation, adding that public participation would be key to the project’s success.
The development comes at a time when the government has intensified efforts to combat environmental degradation. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has previously declared a “war” on the destruction of wetlands, forests, and water bodies, describing it as a threat to national security and long-term economic stability.
Under the 2025–2026 environmental directives, the government has moved to enforce restoration measures, including eviction of wetland encroachers, suspension of new permits for wetland activities, and protection of buffer zones along lakes and rivers.
Despite these efforts, environmental experts have pointed to persistent challenges, including inconsistent enforcement and continued pressure on natural resources.
District leaders in Alebtong, however, remain optimistic that sustained community engagement and government support will help reverse environmental degradation and restore forest cover in the area.