Kal P’otongo clan to plant 50,000 trees to restore forest cover in Agago

20 May 2025, 8:55 AM

By Freeman Canogura

The Kal P’otongo Clan in Patongo subcounty, Agago district, has launched a community tree planting initiative aimed at restoring the area’s depleted forest cover. The campaign targets the planting of over 50,000 seedlings, including fruit trees, eucalyptus, and shade trees, as part of local climate change mitigation efforts.

The project is being spearheaded by the clan leadership under the guidance of His Highness Rwot Kasemiro Ongom and will cover homesteads, institutions, and degraded lands across Patongo and nearby areas. The initiative responds to the ongoing environmental crisis caused by large-scale deforestation, primarily driven by charcoal production, firewood collection, and timber harvesting.

Forest cover in the area has drastically declined over recent years due to excessive tree cutting, largely for charcoal production and firewood, which remains a major source of income and fuel for many households. Rwot Kasemiro says this practice has led to increased vulnerability to climate change, with noticeable shifts in weather patterns, reduced rainfall, and worsening drought conditions.

His Grace Archbishop Raphael P’Mony Wokorach of Gulu Archdiocese called on political and community leaders to take the lead in tree planting and conservation initiatives. He delivered this message on 16th May 2025 during a homily at the handover ceremony of St. Matthew’s Church in Aloi, Patongo Town Council, a church building donated by Uganda’s Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny Dollo Chigamoi.

During his sermon, Archbishop Wokorach stressed that protecting the environment is not only a civic duty but also a moral and spiritual obligation. He reminded the congregation of their faith-based responsibility to care for the earth as a sacred gift from God.

Patongo town council Urban Council III Chairperson, Joseph Kilama, welcomed the initiative, saying it was a timely intervention. He said the town council would mobilize residents, particularly youth and school groups, to join the tree planting effort. He acknowledged that urban expansion and reliance on wood fuel had put enormous pressure on tree resources in the town and surrounding areas.

Agago district LCV chairperson Leonard Ojok expressed support for the tree planting initiative. He said the district leadership recognizes the vital role that cultural institutions play in influencing behavioral change and promoting sustainable practices. He encouraged other clans and communities to take similar steps in restoring the environment.