By Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L.H.D (Hon.)

At the Special Forces Training School, Fort Samora Machel in Kaweweta, the Special Forces Command (SFC) has launched a tree-planting initiative to green its barracks and support environmental protection efforts.

Speaking at the event, Lt Col Edison Beyendera, Commandant of the training school, emphasized that environmental conservation is a core objective of SFC.

He also appreciated Dr Jibril for his continued efforts in tree planting since 2020.

“Aerial surveillance is significantly more straightforward in open spaces compared to forested lands due to the lack of visual obstructions, allowing sensors to capture clear, high-resolution data in a single pass. This is very dangerous in security. Tree Planting will not only help us to improve our security, but also enable us to improve food security within all Barracks,” said Dr. Jibril Semakura Owomugisha, event Coordinator.

In partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment under the Running Out of Trees (ROOTs) Campaign, led by Roofings Group Ltd, the initiative began with the donation of 3,000 assorted tree seedlings, including mangoes, jackfruit, avocado, grevillea, and pine. Some of these have already been planted.

The ROOTs Campaign aims to mobilize nationwide tree planting to restore Uganda’s forest cover, which has declined from 24% in 1990 to 13% today.

Partners such as Environmental Alert, Buganda Kingdom, Every Birthday Tree Day Initiative, Million Trees International, and Busoga College were recognized for their contributions,” says Ms Jacinta Nekesa on behalf of the Campaign.

The partners plan to plant 15,000 trees at the barracks, with the initiative set to expand to other SFC barracks across the country.