The uprooting of 100,000 recently planted trees aimed at the greening and beautification of Kampala city has attracted mixed reactions, with several people condemning the authority’s decision.
Ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement and Group of 77 conferences in Kampala in January, Hamis Kiggundu donated over 100,000 royal palm trees to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which were meant to be planted in all the five divisions of Kampala.
Although some of the trees, planted dried up, many others had flourished. However, KCCA decided to uproot all the trees as part of a comprehensive examination of the green coverage in the city to ensure that the existing trees and shrubs conform to traffic and safety regulations.
KCCA EXPLAINS
In a statement issued on Friday, KCCA said despite removing the trees, they were still undertaking continuous tree growing and city beautification as well as trimming of all trees that may affect power lines, street lights and security cameras’ visibility.
According to KCCA, they were transplanting the trees planted on road islands of less than 2m width and relocating those that are likely to obstruct visibility and the free flow of traffic once fully grown.
The authority also said they were removing trees that have dried up and those that are not in tandem with the expected planned beautification for some areas.
“A robust action plan is in place to ensure the protection and nurturing of the city green to attain full maturity and purpose. So, as KCCA, we are undertaking a clean and green campaign as part of the Smart City agenda and, therefore, we call on the public to grow and preserve the city’s greenery,” the notice reads in parts.
When Kiggundu donated the trees, Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Minister Hajat Minsa Kabanda commended him for his generosity.
On her part, KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka expressed gratitude for Kiggundu’s donation and urged other people to emulate the businessman’s gesture.
