Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has called for a renewed focus on planting indigenous trees to combat their decline in Uganda’s forests.
Speaking through Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, Nabbanja stressed that although tree-planting initiatives have increased, most efforts focus on non-native species, overlooking indigenous trees, which has further strained the country’s ecosystems.
“Our indigenous trees are disappearing from forests. By prioritizing their replanting, we can begin to restore what has been lost,” Nabbanja emphasized during her remarks at the launch of the 6th edition of the annual Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Run 2024, held in Kampala on Wednesday.
Aligned with the United Nations’ mission for ecosystem restoration and Uganda’s goal to increase its forest cover by 2030, this year’s SDG Run is dedicated to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The event aims to generate 20 million indigenous tree seedlings to help restore Uganda’s degraded forest landscapes.
Held under the theme “Partnership for the Goals” (SDG 17), the 2024 edition seeks to deepen public engagement, raise awareness, and create lasting impacts for sustainability.
The prime minister urged Ugandans to participate in the SDG Run, noting that achieving these goals will require collective action from citizens and global partners.
“Together, we have the power to transform our communities, combat climate change, and safeguard Uganda’s rich biodiversity for future generations,” she stated.
Nabbanja also commended Youth Go Green for mobilizing young people to become champions of climate action.
Youth Go Green patron Edwin Muhumuza noted that since its inception in 2017, the SDG Run has become a cornerstone event in Uganda, uniting government agencies, the UN, private sector partners, youth organizations, civil society, and the public in advancing environmental sustainability and the SDGs.
“The Run provides a unique platform for participants to show their commitment to the goals and directly contribute to environmental restoration efforts,” Muhumuza added.
Joseph Kigozi, Deputy Group CEO of Next Media, which is partnering with the SDG Run, emphasized Next Media’s commitment to promoting the SDGs. “With a reach of over 15 million viewers in Uganda and more than 2 million online, we have a critical role in giving partners a platform to communicate their work toward achieving the SDGs,” Kigozi said.
Organizers also announced that proceeds from the SDG Run will fund the establishment of regional nursery beds across Uganda, including in the Albertine (Rwenzori and Bunyoro), West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja, and Eastern, Central, and Western regions. These nurseries will serve as centers for cultivating 20 million indigenous tree seedlings, which will be planted in degraded areas to support Uganda’s national forest restoration targets by 2030.
