King Oyo champions tree planting, commends sports excellence in Tooro Kingdom

13 October 2025, 13:40

By Alice Kobusinge

King Oyo of Tooro Kingdom has urged his subjects to plant trees to combat climate change and protect the environment. During his Kingdom tour, he also praised Fort Portal County’s sports teams for their outstanding performance and highlighted a new youth empowerment program to promote sustainability and development.

In a continued effort to combat climate change and promote environmental conservation, the King of Tooro Kingdom, His Majesty Dr. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has urged his subjects to prioritise tree planting as a means to safeguard the environment for future generations.

Speaking during his ongoing Kingdom tour at Tooro Botanical Gardens in Fort Portal County, King Oyo emphasised the vital role trees play in maintaining ecological balance and mitigating the devastating effects of climate change.

The Monarch, a renowned environmentalist and conservationist, noted that the Tooro region has recently faced unpredictable weather patterns, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity, which he attributed to the growing impact of climate change. He called upon communities to take individual responsibility in preserving the natural environment.

In the same event, King Oyo congratulated the Fort Portal County sports team for their remarkable performance emerging champions in the 2025 Tooro Kingdom Netball Amasaza Cup and finishing second in football. He praised their commitment and discipline, noting that sports promote unity, health, and talent development among the youth.

The Tooro youth economic empowerment programme

Meanwhile, Tooro Kingdoms’ Prime Minister Armstrong Calvin revealed that the Kingdom, in partnership with the Government of Uganda, has initiated the Tooro Kingdom Youth Economic Empowerment Program (TOKYEP).

Calvin said the program is a strategic effort to mobilise and empower young people across Tooro through coffee and cocoa growing, as well as poultry farming. He highlighted that with 78% of Uganda’s population under the age of 30, the region faces both the challenge of high youth unemployment and the opportunity of harnessing a demographic dividend for economic growth.

On his part, Anesty Kalege, the head of Fort Portal County, said the King’s tour in the area was held under the theme “Integrating Health, Justice, Skilling, and Environmental Conservation.”

He expressed concern over the continued encroachment on wetlands, warning that such activities are worsening the effects of climate change.

During the ceremony, Fort Portal Central Member of Parliament Alex Ruhunda, the Director of Tooro Botanical Gardens, together with Polly Akampwera, were honored with medals for their outstanding contributions towards the development of Tooro Kingdom.