Solomon Mugume, a resident of Waisoke village in Butyaaba subcounty, Buliisa district, received a valuable gift from Living Earth Uganda (LEU) – 100 diverse tree species. This generous gesture was part of the livelihood restoration packages offered to the community. Among the trees were mangoes, oranges, and griveal.
Mugume’s enthusiasm for environmental conservation led him to choose trees as his enterprise of choice. He believed in their potential for long-term investments. He shared, “I anticipate that in just 5 years, my mangoes and oranges will start generating income, while the griveal will provide me with high-quality construction materials.”
Living Earth provided essential training on tree planting and care for both commercial and home use, covering everything from nursery bedding to harvesting. This knowledge was intended to empower local farmers like Mr. Mugume with the skills and information needed for sustainable tree management.
Twesigye Kaheru, a Waisoke resident, diligently tends to her LEU-provided tree seedlings. Unlike Mugume, Kaheru envisions herself as a future citrus farmer and has chosen orange fruit trees for her venture. She expresses gratitude to LEU for imparting valuable tree care knowledge, a once-overlooked aspect.
“We used to assume trees thrived on their own, but the training opened my eyes. Now, I focus on diseases, growth patterns, spacing, and mulching,” Kaheru emphasizes.
Godfrey Kajuma, the LEU agronomist, highlights that these trees were deliberately selected for their capacity to enhance soil fertility through leaf shedding, combat soil erosion, and offer nutritious fruits.