Restoring Kasese's rivers: youth-led bamboo and tree planting

Kasese District in Western Uganda lies on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, a unique ecosystem with glaciers, forests, wetlands, lakes, and multiple rivers including River Mubuku, Nyamwamba, Nyamughasana, and Isebwe and so many others. Due to climate change, deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental degradation, these rivers flood almost every year, destroying homes, schools, hospitals, roads, crops, and livelihoods. Thousands of families have been displaced and now live in the camp, and many communities continue to face poverty and food insecurity after every flooding season.

At the same time, Kasese faces a growing youth unemployment crisis. Many young people lack access to jobs and opportunities, leading to increased drug abuse, violence, theft, and hopelessness. However, youth also represent the greatest opportunity for environmental restoration and climate action.

Touch the Youth Foundation Uganda, a youth-led organization based in Kasese, is launching a Bamboo and Tree Restoration Project to restore degraded riverbanks while empowering vulnerable youth with green skills and sustainable livelihoods. The project will mobilize and train over 500 youth to establish bamboo nurseries and plant more than 120,000 bamboo and indigenous tree seedlings along major flood-prone rivers in Kasese.

Bamboo is a fast-growing and climate-resilient plant with deep roots that help stabilize riverbanks, reduce flooding, prevent soil erosion, improve biodiversity, and absorb excess water. Beyond environmental protection, bamboo provides economic opportunities through furniture making, construction poles, handicrafts, briquettes, fencing materials, and other value-added products.

The project combines ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, youth empowerment, and sustainable income generation to create long-term environmental and social impact in Kasese District.