Following the disasters that have hit and claimed lives in the Bududa district, the authorities have embarked on growing bamboo trees as a way of averting future calamities. The district in partnership with International Network for Bamboo and Rottan organization (INBAR), launched a campaign of Bamboo growing to prevent the soils from being eroded.

Over 2000 bamboo trees have so far been planted across the sub-counties that are more prone to landslides within the district in a campaign that is intended to reforest the district but also prevent the locals from encroaching on the Mt Elgon forest for Bamboo shoots locally known as Maleewa.

The disasters that have for years hit Bududa have long been blamed on deforestation, degradation of wetlands and poor farming methods

With Uganda and Bududa in particular losing hundreds of hectares of forest cover due to population pressure and illegal logging, both public and individual efforts have become key to restoring the degraded land.

Bamboo is best known for its strength and durability and it is one of the fastest-growing trees which easily restore degraded areas.

Michael Malingha, the National Coordinator of the International Network for Bamboo and Rottan -INBAR an organization spearheading the growing of the bamboo trees in Bududa district says they intend to provide Bamboo seedlings to the locals in the 28 Sub Counties that make up Bududa district but beginning with seven that have suffered the more with landslides.

Malingah who was speaking during the launch of the campaign in Bududa district early this week said the planting of the bamboo trees will provide an opportunity to fight climate change which is behind the increasing disasters like landslides and floods in the Elgon sub-region.

Malingha says that they want to domesticate the growing of the bamboo such that it is found in all homes something that can avert the conflicts where people encroach on the National Parks in search of the bamboo shoots for a delicacy.

Dr. Selim Reza, the Regional Programs Manager for INBAR explains that in the first phase, they are focusing on capacity building of the locals and establishing Bamboo nursery beds in the selected seven Sub Counties before rolling out to the whole district. 

The state minister for Karamoja affairs Agness Nandutu who also doubles as the Bududa district woman Member of Parliament says that her district has for many years suffered the effects of the degraded environment.  She notes that she is now confident that the growing of Bamboo will help to curb those effects and also be planted alongside coffee hence enhancing the household incomes of the locals.

Godfrey Francis Sukye and Bosco Mukumba are residents of Bushika Sub County in the Bududa district. Both intend to grow the bamboo along the river banks noting their area is prone to landslides which have led to the loss of lives and displacement of many people. Both believe that there is a need to have bamboo trees planted on the entire mountain to stop the soil from eroding.

Following the disasters that have hit and claimed lives in the Bududa district, the authorities have embarked on growing bamboo trees as a way of averting future calamities. The district in partnership with International Network for Bamboo and Rottan organization (INBAR), launched a campaign of Bamboo growing to prevent the soils from being eroded.

Over 2000 bamboo trees have so far been planted across the sub-counties that are more prone to landslides within the district in a campaign that is intended to reforest the district but also prevent the locals from encroaching on the Mt Elgon forest for Bamboo shoots locally known as Maleewa.

The disasters that have for years hit Bududa have long been blamed on deforestation, degradation of wetlands and poor farming methods.

With Uganda and Bududa in particular losing hundreds of hectares of forest cover due to population pressure and illegal logging, both public and individual efforts have become key to restoring the degraded land.

Bamboo is best known for its strength and durability and it is one of the fastest-growing trees which easily restore degraded areas.

Michael Malingha, the National Coordinator of the International Network for Bamboo and Rottan -INBAR an organization spearheading the growing of the bamboo trees in Bududa district says they intend to provide Bamboo seedlings to the locals in the 28 Sub Counties that make up Bududa district but beginning with seven that have suffered the more with landslides.

Malingah who was speaking during the launch of the campaign in Bududa district early this week said the planting of the bamboo trees will provide an opportunity to fight climate change which is behind the increasing disasters like landslides and floods in the Elgon sub-region.

Malingha says that they want to domesticate the growing of the bamboo such that it is found in all homes something that can avert the conflicts where people encroach on the National Parks in search of the bamboo shoots for a delicacy.

Dr Selim Reza, the Regional Programs Manager for INBAR explains that in the first phase, they are focusing on capacity building of the locals and establishing Bamboo nursery beds in the selected seven Sub Counties before rolling out to the whole district. 

The state minister for Karamoja affairs Agness Nandutu who also doubles as the Bududa district woman Member of Parliament says that her district has for many years suffered the effects of the degraded environment.  She notes that she is now confident that the growing of Bamboo will help to curb those effects and also be planted alongside coffee hence enhancing the household incomes of the locals.

Godfrey Francis Sukye and Bosco Mukumba are residents of Bushika Sub County in the Bududa district. Both intend to grow the bamboo along the river banks noting their area is prone to landslides which has led to the loss of lives and displacement of many people. Both believe that there is a need to have bamboo trees planted on the entire mountain to stop the soil from eroding.