World Environment Day: MTN Uganda pioneering environmental stewardship for a sustainable future

By Our Reporter Three years ago, MTN Uganda embarked on an ambitious project to restore 220 hectares of forest cover. This initiative, part of the larger “Uganda is Home” campaign, celebrated the symbiotic relationship between MTN Uganda and the people of Uganda, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the socio-economic well-being of the country. MTN Uganda’s forest restoration initiative was more than a symbolic gesture; it was a tangible recommitment to Uganda’s environmental and socio-economic development. Three years later, the initiative aligns with the 2024 World Environment Day theme, “land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience” highlighting the critical importance of reforestation for a sustainable future. Launched at Kyewaga Central Forest Reserve in Entebbe, the project was undertaken in partnership with the National Forestry Authority. The reforestation effort aimed to restore forest cover in five Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) across the country: Barifa CFR in Arua, Kagombe CFR in Kibaale, Jubiya CFR in Masaka, and Ogera Hills CFR in Serere district. The project symbolized the company’s then, 22-year presence in Uganda, with each 10 hectares representing one year of MTN’s existence in the country. In the three years since the project’s inception, the impact has been profound. The restored forests have not...