KCCA PUTS GREENING AT THE HEART OF THE CITY FESTIVAL

The voices of young learners from Nakivubo Primary School set the tone for Kampala’s Tree Planting Day as they performed a moving poem titled The Earth’s Lamentation.

With words that spoke of drying rivers, frequent floods, rising sea levels, and the destruction of the environment by man, the children called on citizens to act, by planting trees, managing waste responsibly, and safeguarding the city’s future.

They had another clear message: “Refuse, reuse, recycle. Do not dump garbage in drainage channels.” The poem, met with thunderous applause, was more than just performance, it was a call to conscience.

This Tree Planting day held at Nile Avenue on Friday, was part of a pre-event activity ahead of the much-anticipated Kampala City Festival, which returns on October 12 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds under the theme Culture, Innovation and Sustainability.

And sustainability took center stage as leaders, learners, and city residents planted trees and recommitted to greening Kampala.

The occasion was graced by the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Dr. Akankwasa Barirega, who delivered a keynote address. He challenged Ugandans to rethink what greening truly means.

“Greening is not just about planting trees. It is about restoring balance in our cities. Yes, we have planted many trees, but how many survive? The challenge is to nurture them,” Barirega said.

He strongly cautioned against voices pushing for degazettement of urban forests, describing it as backward thinking.

“We need more forests in cities to clear our air. Air quality in urban areas is far worse than in rural areas. Schools, roads, barracks, and health facilities all have space that must be greened. At NEMA, we are committing to adopt one of Kampala’s green spaces. Greening the city is not KCCA’s responsibility alone; it is everyone’s.” Barirega said

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, emphasized the day’s significance, noting its alignment with the National Tree Planting Day.

“To us, trees are life. They give shade, regulate climate, and beautify our city. But beyond that, they are a gift to our children. We must keep them well,” Buzeki said.

She further stressed inclusivity in greening efforts: “This should be one of our core values, and we can do better if everyone is involved. Everything green needs all of us.” She revealed that KCCA is prioritizing the planting of fruit trees in schools as part of efforts to promote nutrition and food security.

The Acting Director of Physical Planning at KCCA, Ivan Katongole, announced that 2,000 trees would be planted during the day.

“We are planting a few here on Nile Avenue, and the rest will be distributed to schools across the city,” he said, adding that KCCA remains committed to maintaining over 116,000 trees under its management.

The day’s activities reflected not just a symbolic gesture but a deliberate movement to green public spaces and strengthen Kampala’s resilience to climate change.

From the poetic voices of school children to the commitments of environmental leaders, the message resonated: Kampala’s future depends on the trees planted and cared for today.