Zadock Amanyisa | Tayari News
KAMPALA – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has asked the Church of Uganda to integrate environmental stewardship into its sermons to tackle the ongoing environmental crisis.
According to Tayebwa, the prevailing environmental crisis needs combined efforts from all stakeholders.
“Environmental crisis is a moral and spiritual crisis. It is a crisis of how we value life, how we treat creation and how we define our duty to future generations. Let us promote tree growing, proper waste management, protection of waste lands and sustainable agricultural practices as acts of faith and obedience to God,” he said
The Deputy Speaker made the remarks on Monday, 2nd March, in Kampala, where he presided over the launch of the Church of Uganda’s ambitious campaign to plant 15 million trees in three years under the theme “A legacy of stewardship for a greener future.”
He reiterated Parliament’s commitment to strengthening legislation, oversight and budgetary allocations that support environmental protection.
“But even if we do this, all these government efforts can only succeed if they are complemented by community-driven actions. I therefore urge all of us to integrate environmental stewardship into sermons, teachings, programs and community outreach initiatives.” Tayebwa noted
The event was part of the events to mark 150 years of the Church of Uganda’s existence, underlining environmental protection and disaster risk reduction as key pillars of the COU strategic plan 2026-2030. The Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, the 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, called upon dioceses, parishes, congregations, schools and households to take ownership of the campaign.
“Each diocese is to commit to growing 38500 trees over the next three years. I also encourage them to nominate an environment focal person that will be responsible for reporting and data capturing,” Dr Kaziimba said
“Let our churches become centers of environmental education, sustainable practices and community mobilization. I also call upon all Bishops, clergy and church leaders to preach green sermons dedicated creation care, during this month of March,” he added
The Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee Chairperson, Hon. Herbert Ariko, echoed the Parliament’s efforts in environmental protection.
“There is a significant problem of environmental degradation. Felling of trees, the cutting down of forests, are one of the things that the committee of parliament has been urging the Ministry of Water and Environment to do and build synergies.” He said
“We would like to see that the seedling multiplication process of the ministry and the budget that we have been providing for this purpose is also used to support these efforts by the church, because the church has the structures.” He added
The Deputy Speaker announced 50 million shillings as Parliament’s contribution towards buying seedlings for the project.