DFCU Bank, UTGA Mark World Environment Day with Tree Planting Drive in Mukono
Mukono, Uganda – 05 June 2026 – dfcu Bank, through its impact arm dfcu Foundation, in partnership with the Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA), marked World Environment Day with a tree planting and grower training initiative at Ntakanfunvu in Mukono. The activity forms part of dfcu Foundation’s broader sustainability agenda under its Tree Planting and Promotion Program (T3P), which integrates environmental stewardship with enterprise development, reinforcing the Bank’s focus on climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and green economic growth.
Through its sustainability strategy, dfcu Foundation is advancing a long-term target of growing over 500,000 trees by 2029, aimed at enhancing carbon sequestration, restoring biodiversity, and improving income streams for farmers. The institution reports progress of more than 62,000 trees planted and distributed in 2025 alone, underscoring a shift from tree planting to tree growing with lasting environmental and commercial value.
The World Environment Day activity in Mukono contributed to this target, with more than 80 trees planted, while emphasizing the importance of nurturing trees to maturity for both ecological and economic benefits.
The partnership between dfcu Bank and UTGA remains central to the initiative, combining financial expertise from dfcu Foundation with UTGA’s technical forestry knowledge to support tree growers. The collaboration is designed to move farmers beyond tree planting into forestry as a viable enterprise, improving productivity, strengthening resilience to climate shocks, and expanding access to financial services.
Dr. James Ssemwanga, Chairperson of UTGA and dfcu Foundation Boards, emphasized the dual value of environmental protection and wealth creation.
“We have the potential to create wealth and sustain it through the timber business while protecting the environment… We must grow and nurture trees that hold long-term value,” he said.
The initiative comes amid growing climate challenges in Uganda, including deforestation, land degradation, and income vulnerability among rural households. By linking tree growing to enterprise development, dfcu is promoting climate-smart livelihoods while strengthening the bankability and sustainability of agribusinesses under programs such as T3P.
Participants at the event received financial literacy training facilitated by dfcu Foundation, focusing on budgeting, record keeping, savings, and access to credit to improve enterprise performance. UTGA complemented the training with technical guidance on sustainable forestry practices to enhance productivity and improve woodlot management.
Ms. Sharon Kalanzi, Business Advisor Central at dfcu Foundation, noted that financial discipline is critical to the success of forestry enterprises, saying it enhances profitability, sustainability, and access to financing.
The event also marked the culmination of a series of UTGA regional cluster meetings held across the country. Through such initiatives, dfcu Bank continues to position itself as a key driver of inclusive, climate-resilient growth while empowering communities to achieve both economic and environmental sustainability.
