Minister encourages people in Agago to plant more trees

31 March 2025, 6:57 pm

By Geofferey Okwong

Beatrice Akello Akori, the Woman Member of Parliament for Agago district and Minister for Economic Monitoring in the Office of the President, has urged SACCO members to plant more trees to mitigate the harsh effects of climate change.

She made the remarks during the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Pader-Abim Community Multipurpose Electric Co-operative Society Limited (PACMECS) on Saturday, 29th March 2025, at the Agago District Council Hall.

Akori called on everyone to take action against climate change by planting trees, citing recent environmental challenges in Uganda and globally.

Giving examples such as the recent flooding in Kampala, prolonged drought, extreme heat, excessive rainfall, and rising temperatures, she emphasised that these are all consequences of climate change that must be addressed.

She warned against encroaching on wetlands and cutting down trees without replanting, stressing that such practices contribute to environmental degradation.

Akori also informed the members that tree seedlings are available at district headquarters through the forestry department, as resources are regularly allocated for raising seedlings.

Regarding the SACCO, Akori urged members to avoid excessive borrowing without prioritising savings. She warned that without a strong culture of saving, the SACCO would fail to sustain itself and would ultimately collapse, leaving members without any benefits.

She noted that reports indicate many members are focused on borrowing rather than saving, which threatens the SACCO’s stability.

Akori encouraged members to develop a saving culture, emphasising that what they save determines what they can borrow.

She further stressed that without a habit of saving, it would be difficult to sustain the businesses they borrow for, as savings are essential for business growth and long-term success.

PACMECS SACCO commenced operations on 3rd October 2023 with four branches across three districts: Abim in Abim district, Patongo and Kalongo in Agago district, and Pader, where its head office is located in Pader district.