Equity Bank Uganda has launched a two-year Green Schools Programme, aiming to plant 200,000 trees by December 2027, with the first phase beginning at Nakanyonyi Secondary School in Mukono District. The initiative, part of the bank’s Environmental, Social, and Governance agenda, will see 50,000 trees planted across 25 schools in 10 districts by the end of 2026, followed by an additional 150,000 trees through school orchards in 2027. Equity Bank Managing Director Gift Shoko emphasized the program’s role in achieving the bank’s regional target of planting 35 million trees across East Africa under its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (AARP).
Minister of Public Service and My Tree Initiative Patron Gen Edward Katumba Wamala urged environmental watchdogs to enforce stricter measures against deforestation during the launch ceremony. He warned that environmental degradation risks severe consequences, stating, “This programme is about restoring our environment. The environment has a way of revenging because we have severely disturbed it.” Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment, Eng Sowed Sewagudde, pledged government support for restoration efforts, highlighting the need for public-private collaboration to address Uganda’s declining forest cover, which has fallen from 24% to below 9% over recent decades.
The program builds on prior partnerships, including the 2023 planting of 1,500 trees at Kyasanku Hill College in Mpigi District. Enjer Ashiraf, Executive Director of My Tree Initiative, praised Equity Bank’s leadership, noting, “If you want to go far, you go with others. We are thankful to Equity Bank for their generous partnership in spearheading this annual Green Schools Program.” Nakanyonyi Secondary School Head Teacher George Wateta described the initiative as a “milestone,” emphasizing its role in fostering environmental stewardship among students. The project aims to transform schools into hubs for climate education and ecosystem restoration, targeting the root causes of Uganda’s biodiversity crisis.
Equity Bank’s environmental efforts extend beyond tree planting, including over UGX 34 billion in climate financing and support for more than 800 green enterprises over the past five years. The Green Schools Programme aligns with broader regional sustainability goals, with Shoko stating, “This programme contributes to Equity’s wider ambition of planting 35 million trees across East Africa.” As Uganda grapples with deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and unsustainable practices, the initiative underscores the critical role of education in cultivating future generations of environmental advocates.