Church of Uganda Partners with Government to Combat Climate Change Through Sustainable Livelihood Projects

KAMPALA — The Church of Uganda (COU) has entered into a strategic 12-year memorandum of understanding with the Ugandan government’s Ministry of Water and Environment, marking a major milestone in the nation’s efforts to bolster climate resilience and environmental conservation.

The partnership, which aligns with the national initiative “Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments in Uganda,” aims to mitigate the growing impacts of climate change while providing tangible socio-economic benefits to vulnerable populations across 24 project districts.

Empowering Communities Through Innovation

At the heart of the agreement is the installation and operationalization of specialized fish feed pelleting machines at designated church facilities. By hosting this infrastructure, the COU will serve as a hub for local agricultural development, enabling communities to transition from relief dependency to self-reliance.

The Rev. William Ongeng, Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, highlighted that the project is an expression of the church’s “holistic ministry,” which seeks to transform both the spiritual and socio-economic lives of its congregants.

“By hosting these fish feed production facilities, we are creating opportunities for employment, household income generation, and food security,” Rev. Ongeng told local media. “Taking care of the earth is a mandate given to humanity by God; environmental conservation is biblical and must be embraced by all Christians.”

The project will be overseen by the Directorate of Households and Community Transformation (COU-HCT), the church’s specialized arm for development. Rev. Andrew Agaba, Director of the COU-HCT, noted that the initiative is expected to significantly improve living standards in the project areas.

A National Priority

Dr. Alfred Okidi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment, emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing Uganda’s climate vulnerabilities.

“This partnership will help bring climate-smart livelihood interventions closer to the people while promoting sustainable management of wetlands and associated catchments,” Dr. Okidi stated. He noted that the collaboration directly supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to which Uganda is a signatory.

Uganda has faced severe climate challenges in recent years, including devastating droughts in the Karamoja region and frequent, deadly landslides in the Mount Elgon area—disasters that have claimed more than 1,000 lives in the last decade alone.

A Growing Legacy of Green Initiatives

This agreement is the latest in a series of ambitious environmental commitments by the Church of Uganda. Under the leadership of Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, the church has integrated creation care into its core mission. Recent directives include requiring confirmation candidates to plant trees and replacing traditional wreath-laying at funerals with memorial tree planting.

The church’s overarching strategic plan (2026–2030) targets the planting of up to 40 million trees nationwide, aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems and reducing dependence on firewood.

The Nnabagereka of Buganda has also praised these efforts, urging the church to continue its stewardship by promoting rainwater harvesting and renewable energy sources. This sentiment is shared by officials like Margaret Mwebesa, the ministry’s climate change commissioner, who noted that the church’s unique ability to mobilize grassroots communities makes it an essential partner in the national environmental conservation project.

As the COU continues to build alliances with agencies such as the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the church is cementing its position as a leading force in balancing national development with the urgent necessity of protecting Uganda’s natural heritage.