admin | April 24, 2026
News Brief
Women in Kasese district, Uganda, are restoring degraded farmland by planting indigenous trees to adapt to climate change. Led by farmer Janet Nyakairu Abwoli, community groups are raising Ficus and Dracaena seedlings that help prevent soil erosion, retain moisture and protect crops from extreme weather. The initiative, supported by local authorities and NGOs, also provides seedlings to households across the district. While farmers report improved yields and soil conditions, limited access to seedlings and fencing materials continues to slow wider adoption of the tree-planting effort.
In the dappled morning light of Kasese district, women gather around a small tree nursery at the edge of the village. Rows of young Ficus and Dracaena seedlings stand ready in neat pots, their leaves glistening with dew. The women are here to collect seedlings to plant around their homes and farms.
For years, farmers in Kasese relied on fertile soils and predictable rains. Over the past two decades, rainfall has become unpredictable. Droughts last longer and floods are more frequent, sometimes washing away crops, homes, and livelihoods.
Local farmer Janet Nyakairu Abwoli has a plan. About nine years ago, she began organizing women in her community to plant indigenous trees to protect the land and support their families. She says, “We don’t just plant trees. We plant hope.”
Ficus trees grow quickly and provide shade for homes and crops. Their roots hold soil in place, preventing erosion on slopes and along riverbanks. They act as windbreaks and provide fodder for livestock. Dracaena trees are drought-resistant, retain soil moisture, and can be used to mark land boundaries or for home remedies.
Evelyn Mugume, an environment officer in Kasese municipality, explains that local government and non-governmental organizations support these efforts to plant more trees. She says, “Every rainy season, people come to us for indigenous trees. But it is not just about planting trees. It is about understanding their role in our survival.”
Mrs. Abwoli also runs workshops to teach women how to plant and care for trees, passing on knowledge from her grandmother. She says, “What I’m teaching is what our ancestors practiced before deforestation took over.”
Some farmers are already seeing results. Jannet Kabugho, who joined Mrs. Abwoli’s initiative early on, said her farmland has transformed. Her maize stays moist even during dry spells, and Dracaena leaves are sold for medicinal purposes.
But challenges remain. Many families struggle to afford seedlings or the tools needed to care for them. Others are stretched thin by domestic duties, leaving little time to water or protect young trees. Maria Kanyere is a widow raising three children. She says, “I tried planting, but the goats ate everything. I don’t have time to fence them off.”
Despite these obstacles, Mrs. Abwoli continues her work, emphasizing the long-term benefits of trees for soil, food, and community resilience. Local officials say initiatives like hers are key to restoring degraded landscapes and building climate resilience.
She says, “It is not just about planting trees. It is about protecting what sustains us.”
For Mrs. Abwoli and the women she works with, planting trees is both a practical response to climate change and a way to reconnect with cultural traditions. It ensures healthier land and stronger communities for the future.
Photo: Janet Nyakiru Abwoli, Kasese district, Uganda. Image by Innocent Kiiza for Mongabay.
This story is based on an article written by Innocent Kiiza and published on MongaBay, titled “In Uganda, a women-led reforestation initiative fights flooding, erosion” To read the full story, go to: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/01/in-uganda-a-women-led-reforestation-initiative-fights-flooding-erosion/