Opportunity Bank Runs For A Greener Uganda: Supporting Tree Planting In Schools Nationwide

Kampala, Uganda – Sunday, August 10, 2025 – As Opportunity Bank Uganda marks 30 years of service, it celebrates this milestone with its annual charity run held this morning at the Bank’s Head Office in Kamwokya, with participants conquering both 10km and 5km routes. Held under the inspiring theme, “Planting Hope, Growing Change, Greening the Future,” the event reaffirmed the Bank’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and social impact—core pillars of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. The Opportunity Bank Run is more than just a fitness event—it’s a nationwide movement uniting the community to raise awareness about climate change, promote environmental conservation, and support reforestation efforts across Uganda.

Greening Uganda’s Future: A Growing Legacy

Since May 2024, Opportunity Bank has been at the forefront of environmental action. In partnership with the Lukango Tree Conservancy (LuTreeCo), the Bank launched a ground-breaking national school greening initiative to plant indigenous trees and cultivate environmental stewardship among Uganda’s youth. This has enhanced environmental awareness among students and improved school landscapes through the planting of indigenous trees.

Key Achievements to Date:

• Over 3,000trees planted across 66 targeted schools
• 3,000+ students directly involved in tree-planting activities
• Schools reached all over the 4 regions of Uganda

From flood-prone Soroti to drought-affected Kikuube, the initiative has successfully tackled diverse ecological challenges while promoting biodiversity and climate resilience in school environments.

Empowering Uganda’s Future Environmental Stewards;

Owen Amanya – Chief Executive Officer, Opportunity Bank Uganda

“The trees we’re planting today are more than just saplings—they are seeds of hope, symbols of resilience, and commitments to lasting change. They embody this year’s powerful theme: Planting Hope, Growing Change, Greening the Future.

At Opportunity Bank Uganda, we believe that sustainability begins at the roots—in our schools, where we also proudly support access to quality education through our School Improvement Financing Program, in our youth who will inherit this planet, and in the choices, we make every day as individuals and as institutions.

The Opportunity Bank Run is more than a fitness event. It is a national movement—a call to action for every Ugandan to take part in protecting our environment while building healthier, more resilient communities.

The urgency is clear: Uganda loses an estimated 90,000 hectares of forest every year, and our national forest cover has declined from 24% in 1990 to just 9.5% today. This is not just a loss of trees—it’s a threat to our biodiversity, water security, and climate stability.

But we are not powerless. Each tree we plant can absorb up to 22 kilograms of CO₂ per year, restore degraded landscapes, and support hundreds of species. Through our reforestation efforts—driven in partnership with the Lukango Tree Conservancy—we are working to reverse this trend: one tree, one school, one community at a time.

I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to every student who planted a seedling, every teacher who led by example, every runner who showed up, and our sponsors & partners who believed in this cause—thank you. You are all part of this growing movement.

Together, let us continue to run with purpose, plant with intention, and grow a future we can be proud of.

One tree. One child. One future. That’s the promise of Opportunity Bank Uganda.”

Proceeds and awareness raised through the Opportunity Bank Run directly support ongoing initiatives, including the expansion of the school greening program and broader community-led conservation efforts.

Opportunity Bank Uganda extends heartfelt appreciation to all runners, families, schools, and corporate partners who participated in this transformative event. Whether you ran, walked, or cheered, your involvement helps plant hope, grow change, and green the future of Uganda.