By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Gro Foundation in partnership with Inter Religious Council of Uganda(IRCU) have officially launched the long awaited massive tree planting project under the theme “Reducing Climate Change Vulnerability through afforestation, reforestation and environmental conservation.”
The ceremonial launch happened on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the residence of the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda, The Most,His Grace Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu, at Namirembe Cathedral.
The launch was graced by distinguished guests, including a high level delegation from Bulgaria,Germany and Canada led by renowned environmentalist, Ugandan Irish of the Mamba clan, Mr. Paul Flynn Mukalazi, the CEO Gro Foundation and Pan-African Pyramid Global Award Winner of 2023 as an Environmental philanthropist.
In his address at the launch, Flynn, a UN Peace Mission Ambassador for East Africa, noted that the launch marked the beginning of a transformative project that aims at planting over 250 million trees in Uganda by 2030, strategically focusing on reforestation and afforestation to mitigate climate change vulnerability.
During the event, His Grace Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu expressed his gratitude to Gro Foundation under the stewardship of Mr. Paul Flynn, acknowledging his significant contribution of over USD 75 million that has been earmarked to facilitate the extensive tree planting venture across various regions of Uganda. The project not only endeavors to safeguard the environment but also to enhance people’s lives by earning through carbon certificate,under climate financing.
Additionally, Dr. Albert Byamugisha, Head of the National Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister, who also graced the occasion, commended both institutions for their dedicated efforts in championing environmental conservation. Byamugisha also commended Uganda Government for enabling such partnerships in Uganda under the leadership of visionary president Yoweri Museveni.
”I applaud the Inter Religious Council of Uganda, council of presidents led by the Most Rev. Dr Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu in partnership with GRO Foundation led by Mr Paul Flynn Mukalazi for their unwavering dedication to reducing Climate change vulnerability. But I equally commend the Government for putting up such an infrastructure that enables the likes of Flynn to come to Uganda and add value,”said Byamugisha. “The mission of environmental sustainability involves responsible and ethical stewardship of natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity to ensure their longevity and vitality by striking a balance between human activities and the natural world to minimize negative impacts on the environment while fostering a harmonious coexistence between the society, economy, and the planet which are key dimensions of Sustainable Development” he added.
In his address during the launch, Mr. Joshua Kitakule, the General Secretary for IRCU, emphasized the significance of Gro Foundation’s tree planting initiative underscoring its pivotal role in mitigating climate change vulnerability and fostering prosperity within Ugandan communities through afforestation and re-afforestation efforts.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established through a partnership between Gro Foundation, the major project sponsor, and IRCU, the extensive tree planting initiative will be executed and overseen through IRCU structures spanning the entire country for the next 25 years.
As part of this initiative, Flynn has also pledged his support to promote the planting of more than one million trees and the installation of solar systems valued at $25,000, in Kyaka II refugee settlement camp. This commitment is facilitated through the Pan-African Pyramid, a non-governmental organization whose pre-occupation is to revive the spirit of Pan-Africanism and UBUNTU.
Meanwhile, Flynn also used the same event to hand over tailoring machines, vocational machines, sanitary pads, among others to beneficiaries including Magezi Junior School in Bwaise, Naluwerere primary school for the deaf in Bugiri, Muterere heath center 11 in Bugiri, IRCU vocational institute in Buikwe, Bupadengo primary school in Kamuli District.
About Gro Foundation:
GRO Foundation is a social-impact organization based in Germany dedicated to planting 1 billion trees worldwide by 2030, and helping to lift millions of individuals and families out of poverty through creating sustainable livelihood projects and connecting grassroot communities to the global carbon market.
About Inter-Religious Council of Uganda
Founded in 2001, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), is an indigenous, national faith-based organization uniting efforts of religious institutions to jointly address issues of common concern.
IRCU is constituted by the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), the Church of the Province of Uganda (Church Of Uganda-COU), the Uganda Orthodox Church (UOC), the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), the Seventh-day Adventist Uganda Union (SDAUU), the Born Again Faith in Uganda (BAF) and the National Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches in Uganda (NAPECU). Similarly, IRCU works with other religious organizations, namely the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i, the Methodist and Lutheran Churches. Below is a few pictorial evidence for the day;
