NCBA Bank Uganda and NFA advance environmental protection

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | NCBA Bank Uganda has marked a major milestone in its journey towards environmental sustainability through a new partnership with the National Forestry Authority (NFA) aimed at planting 20,000 trees by 2024, equivalent to 30 hectares.

The trees will be planted in the Jubiya Forest Reserve in Masaka, as part of the bank’s “Change History” initiative, aimed in part at restoring degraded parts of the forest, executives said May 7 at a press conference held at the bank headquarters in Kampala.

According to the NFA, Uganda has experienced a significant loss of forest cover, with approximately 41.6% lost since 1900, mainly due to human and economic activities such as agriculture, fuelwood and animal grazing. Despite this alarming trend, around 88% of Ugandans still rely on wood as fuel for cooking, putting immense pressure on forests.

Over the past 25 years, Uganda’s forest cover has seen a severe decline from 4.9 million hectares (24%) to 2.5 million hectares (12.4%) (NFA, 2018). This corresponds to an average annual forest cover loss of 122,000 ha or 2%, of which 65% of this loss occurs on private lands (NFA, 2018).

To address the situation, the Ministry has embarked on a nationwide tree planting campaign called “Running Out of Trees (ROOTS)”, the culmination of which is an annual National Tree Planting Day in which 40 million Ugandans will plant and they will take care of 40 million trees.

The planting objective is mainly native and fruit trees due to their ecosystem and nutritional value. The program is specifically intended to promote forest protection, tree cultivation, reforestation and afforestation in different landscapes.

The campaign builds on Uganda’s 2016 commitment to the Bonn Challenge, based on the Restoration Opportunities Assessment, to restore 2.5 million hectares of degraded forest landscapes by 2030.

In this context, NCBA Bank Uganda is, therefore, taking proactive measures to address these pressing issues through its “Change the Story” initiative. One of the key pillars of this initiative is minimizing our direct impact on the climate and expanding our tree planting program.

Mark Muyobo, CEO of NCBA Bank, said its dedication to sustainability extends beyond emissions reduction to include tree planting activities that provide tangible and lasting benefits such as carbon sequestration, employee engagement and community empowerment.

Muyobo added that through strategic partnerships, direct financial support and rigorous monitoring and evaluation, NCBA Bank Uganda aims to plant 10 million trees by 2030, creating a lasting impact on the environment and communities.

Muyobo added that the bank also eliminated single-use plastic from its operations, reflecting its dedication to reducing its environmental footprint and fostering a culture of sustainability within the NCBA community.

“As we move towards sustainability, we are committed to greening our supply chain and transforming corporate gifting practices,” he said.

He highlighted that the bank is committed to reducing its direct emissions by more than 50% by 2030, which will be achieved through a series of activities in 2024, including the transition to renewable energy sources and the exploration of various system improvements.