Alebtong Deputy RDC Lutwama Mathias Plants 20,000 Trees to Restore Forests. Photo Courtesy.
ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY: Alebtong District led by DRDC Lutwama, moving forward to implement Presidential Order on Tree Planting. Photo Courtesy.
By Okidi Patrick
ALEBTONG, UGANDA– In a decisive move to bolster environmental security and fulfill President Yoweri Museveni’s executive order on environmental conservation, the Alebtong Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mathias Lutwama, has officially launched a massive reafforestation project to reclaim the district’s degraded forest reserves.
The exercise, which kicked off on Thursday, April 30, 2026, saw the planting of 20,000 pine tree seedlings in Te-Ichonga Forest Reserve (32 acres) and Te-Iponga Forest Reserve (10 acres).
Speaking to the media after the launch Deputy RDC Lutwama emphasized that the initiative is a direct implementation of the President’s executive order aimed at safeguarding the country’s ecosystem.
“By launching this project, we are ensuring that environmental security is prioritized. Our goal is to restore the ecosystem, provide fresh air, and advance scientific and agronomical discovery through modern forestry,” Lutwama stated.
The Deputy RDC expressed concern over the destruction of forests over the last seven years, citing that people had cut down trees and built without replacing the trees.
To ensure sustainability, the district has adopted a bottom-up approach, distributing seedlings to local residents for household-level planting.
“The community has fully embraced this initiative whereby public participation is the heartbeat of this project. We are not just planting trees; we are sensitizing our people to become the primary protectors of their environment,” he added.
The program is a result of close collaboration between the Office of the RDC, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the LCV Chairperson, and the District Natural Resources Department.
The project is slated to expand to all the 14 administrative units in Alebtong, including Town councils and Sub-counties ensuring a comprehensive restoration of the district’s natural beauty and climate resilience.
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