The Commonwealth Forest Initiative stems tap roots in Mabira rainforest, Uganda | A climate legacy for the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Norah Namakembo, 5, is a Top class pupil at Heartland Kids School in Najjembe – Mabira, Buikwe District; central Uganda.

For starters, the Mabira is arguably the largest natural rainforest in Uganda and the entire East Africa with an estimated 74,000 acres covering a distance of about 300 square kilometres.

It is a sunny Thursday morning as Namakembo is among the chosen Senior Green Ambassadors who are planting varying tree species in a depleted section of this forest at Mubango local village in Najjembe Township as a strategy to reafforestrate the affected encroached area by residents.

Carrying the placard that read SCOTLAND, the hosts of the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026, Namakembo is among the 74 school representatives for the 74 countries and territories that make up the Great Commonwealth, Uganda inclusive.

“I am proud and happy to have planted a tree in Mabira in this Commonwealth Forest Initiative project. I will ask my parents and teachers to let me come and always check on it as it grows” Namakembo boldly asserted.

This vivid tree-planting campaign is code-named “Commonwealth Forest Initiative” organized by the Commonwealth Association Uganda, in conjunction with the National Forestry Authority (NFA), the ministry of Water and Environment, Parliament of Uganda and the implementing partner, Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green.

This campaign is heavily embedded along the theme-line “A climate legacy for the 2026 Commonwealth Games”.

For any given successful project at hand, the take off stage is very vital for its sustainability and eventual prosperity.

The official launch of this Commonwealth Forest Initiative was well graced with the president of Commonwealth Sport Dr. Donald Rukare in attendance.

He was flanked by the Member of Parliament for Bulambuli constituency Hon. Emmanuel  Biara Wapukhulu (representing the Speaker of Parliament), officials from Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda Olympic Committee General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru and other executive committee members,  the Mubango Najjembe Local Council 1 chairperson Safiyi Magomu, officials from Uganda’s Littele Hands Go Green, pupils and their teachers, local residents as well as the media personalities.

“The soft launch of the Commonwealth Forest Initiative marks the beginning of an ambitious long-term environmental legacy programme that seeks to connect all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories through forest restoration, climate action, biodiversity conservation, and youth engagement.” Dr Rukare remarked.

As part of the launch, 74 indigenous trees were planted in Mabira Forest to represent the 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

Gallant pupils from Heartland Kids School Mabira, Mother Majeri Primary School Bweyogerere and Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kisaasi were engaged in this exercise

“Today is one of these special days where our dream has become a reality. Together with our team, we came up with a dream scenario of creating a Commonwealth Forest as a way of restoring some of the forest cover in our country. We sat down with the stakeholders and discussed at length how we could create the Commonwealth Forest where every country in the Commonwealth could be able to own a little bit of Mabira Forest. Today, we have witnessed a beginning of a journey where 74 trees have been planted. Beyond this, is the commitment that each of the athlete and para-athelete could have a tree planted in Mabira. Initially, we have set aside 7 arces in Mabira where more trees will be planted and It could be increased as the project goes along depending on demand. The biggest win is having the young children involved in the project. The trees will serve as a living symbol of unity, shared responsibility, and collective action in addressing the global climate crisis.” Joseph Mary Masembe, team lead at Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green.

Legislator Hon. Wapukhulu commended the Commonwealth Forest Initiative and pledged support through lobbying from the Parliamentary vote allocated to natural resources.

Since its establishment in 2012, Little Hands Go Green has mobilised millions of children and communities across Uganda to participate in environmental conservation activities, including tree planting, climate education, and ecosystem restoration.

The organization’s work has received support and recognition from national and international leaders, including H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom Owwek. Charles Peter Mayiga, His Majesty King Oyo of Tooro, former Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah (RIP), former Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, and Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, among others.

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