KAD Hosts National Tree Planting Day

Home & NewsThe national commemoration of the tree planting day for the region of Kagera was marked on November 15th in Karagwe District at Bweranyange Girls School run by Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese; with the Regional commissioner (R.C) Rt. Colonel Enos Mfuru officiating at the occasion as the guest of honour.

Among other guests who were present were the Regional Police commander, E. Salewi, Regional officer for Agriculture and Environment, Kagombola, the District Commissioner, Frank Uhahulla, District Council Director, C. Kamuhabwa, District Environmental Officer (D.E.O), B. Byarufu, District Council chairperson, Kashunju Runyogote, KAD Assistant to the Bishop, Dean P. Kakulima, KAD general secretary Erasto Kamihanda, and many other distinguished guests and professionals.

In a series of speeches made by various Government Officials from the Regional and District level, speaker after speaker appreciated the efforts of Karagwe diocese under the visionary leadership of Bishop DR. Benson Bagonza for his innumerable contributions towards the economic and spiritual welfare of the people in Karagwe District and Kagera as a whole.
“We are thankful to Bishop Bagonza for his efforts towards Education of our children and more so the Girl child”, noted the District commissioner, Frank Uhahulla.
The D.C also added that the District policy at present targets sensitisation of the students in schools on environmental matters as one of the measures towards environmental preservation.

The Regional Commissioner on his part challenged the District to emulate the Diocese by setting up a similar school for Girls. He said that statistics in the country show that single sex schools for girls have higher discipline compared to mixed schools.

Speaking about the Governmental environmental Policy, the Chief Guest revealed that it is the Government’s intention to plant at least 5 million trees in each region per year. But he lamented that the survival rate of trees of 70% is not convincing and called upon the Wananchi to reduce tree destruction especially through bush burning in order to increase the rate to at least 70%-90%.He observed the other factor responsible for environmental destruction as being the keeping of excessive livestock beyond land carrying capacity and urged the Government operatives to tackle this problem. He also noted that the region has a lot of bear land which should be given to the youth to till it in order to plant trees.

Earlier on, the District Environmental Officer had read a long speech to the Guest of honour mentioning the various challenges and achievements of the District in its efforts to preserve the environment. The D.E.O noted that there is need by developed countries with high industrial concentration that emit a lot of carbon to assist the tropical countries with lesser industries to plant more trees in order to regulate the increase of carbon gasses that reduce the ozone layer and increases the phenomenon of global warming. He hence thanked donors like Church Of Sweden (CoS) which are doing their part by aiding the E.L.C.T activities in Karagwe District.

Over 500,000 trees were planted on that day at different institutions in the entire region and Karagwe district as part of the day’s commemoration efforts.