On a quiet plot in Kazo Town Council, rows of green saplings sway gently in the wind—silent sentinels of a district’s bold step to fight climate change.
Kazo District Local Government, through its Natural Resources Department, has established a district tree nursery to promote environmental conservation and strengthen community resilience to climate shocks. The nursery, launched in 2024, sits on a ½-acre piece of land and currently holds over 65,000 assorted tree seedlings.
Among the species being nurtured are Prunus africana, Grevillea robusta, Eucalyptus grandis, Terminalia superba, Melia volkensii, kieapple, Gmelina arborea, and Milicia excelsa, commonly known as mvule.
“We are proud to have established this nursery. It not only provides trees for planting but also promotes the conservation of indigenous species that are at risk,” said Bigirwa Dickson, the Kazo District Forestry Officer.
The nursery provides both fruit and indigenous tree seedlings, with many distributed free of charge to farmers, schools, and other community groups. The district also offers technical training and support to individuals interested in starting and managing tree nurseries.
To run the nursery, the district employs one full-time worker on a monthly contract and hires six casual laborers on a need basis.
Dickson revealed plans to expand the nursery’s capacity to 200,000 seedlings to meet growing demand. “We need support to grow our capacity so we can reach more people with quality tree seedlings,” he said.
Located in Uganda’s cattle corridor—a region facing severe environmental stress due to prolonged dry spells and degradation—Kazo District views tree planting as a key intervention to restore ecological balance and improve livelihoods.
The nursery marks a milestone in the district’s efforts toward sustainable land use, forestry conservation, and climate change mitigation.
