The king of Tooro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has launched a campaign of planting 10 million trees in his kingdom by the end of the next five years.
During the launch of the campaign at his palace in Fort Portal on Saturday, Oyo said the move is aimed at combating drought that has been affecting the kingdom following massive destruction of wetlands and trees. He said his major aim is to leave a legacy of a healthy generation living in a good environment.
Elaborating on the campaign, Tooro kingdom prime minister Bernard Tungakwo, said that they are going to get the trees from partner organizations and well-wishers.
He noted that the trees will be planted around the palace and in different counties that make up the kingdom, saying that they will be liaising with their county representatives to ensure the campaign succeeds.
The prime minister also said that the kingdom's subjects will be sensitized on how to get and plant the trees in their homes with major emphasis on fruit trees which can serve a number of purposes.
At the same event, Rotary Club of Muyenga rewarded King Oyo with the Vocation Award accolade for his contribution to the health and well-being of the people of Tooro, Uganda, and beyond.
The president of the club, Gabriel Obbo Kitandi, noted that Oyo has been among other things, organizing annual health camps in different counties of his kingdom where people have received cataract surgery and general treatment that have attracted 10,000 people in the last three years.
As support towards the king’s tree planting campaign, the rotary club gave 1,000 tree seedlings to the kingdom. Of these, 100 were immediately planted around the palace by the county representatives. Tungakwo hailed the club for the offer, adding that other organizations and individuals can do the same for the good of the environment in the kingdom.