The Military Police has launched its inaugural Environmental Day with a major tree planting drive at Buyala Nsujju Mporwe Barracks in Mpigi District, setting the stage for what will become an annual tradition across all its formations every 1 June.
Presiding over the event, Commandant of the Military Police Brigade, Brigadier General William Bainomugisha, underscored the strategic value of environmental conservation within military operations. He reaffirmed its alignment with the National Resistance Army/UPDF’s 15-point programme. “This initiative reinforces our commitment to environmental protection, which is integral to the success of our duties as soldiers,” Brig Gen Bainomugisha stated. The exercise falls under the wider “Green Barracks” campaign spearheaded by Million Trees International.
Dr Jibril Ssemakula, speaking on behalf of Million Trees International, commended the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) for its proactive role in advancing global environmental goals and boosting Uganda’s natural resource base and food security. As part of the campaign, 10,000 trees are expected to be planted in and around the barracks, with 1,000 fruit trees, mangoes, jackfruit, and avocados, planted on the launch day alone.
Assistant Commissioner for Forestry in the Ministry of Water and Environment, Mr Issa Katwesigye, said the broader campaign aims to restore 2.5 million hectares of degraded land. He highlighted the urgent need to combat climate-related challenges, including flooding, lightning, crop failure, disease outbreaks, biodiversity loss, and the erosion of traditional medicinal resources. “The broader goal is to integrate environmental protection with development, traditional medicine, and the creation of seed banks to ensure long-term sustainability,” Mr Katwesigye noted.
The event drew wide participation from key stakeholders, including the Buganda Kingdom, Nile Breweries, the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Stanbic Bank, ABSA Bank, Free Tree Adoption Uganda, local leaders, and senior Military Police officers.