AGRA Chair Hailemariam Desalegn Joins Rwandans as Kigali Launches Ambitious Tree Planting Season
The City of Kigali has officially launched the 2025–2026 tree planting season with a strong push for climate action, marked by the planting of over 2,000 agroforestry trees during the October edition of Umuganda community work. The activity took place along the Nyarutarama Running Track and nearby sites, reinforcing Rwanda’s national efforts in ecosystem restoration and environmental resilience
Hailemariam Desalegn, Chair of the Board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, joined residents in Gasabo District for the launch, alongside Kigali City Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva and Minister of Environment Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye.
“This is more than a symbolic gesture,” said Hailemariam Desalegn. “It’s a call to action across Africa. I am proud to stand with Rwanda in this restoration effort and personally commit to following up on the trees I planted they must grow.”
As part of its climate action plan, the City of Kigali aims to plant 3 million trees by 2029.
“We are planting for the future,” said Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva. “But planting alone is not enough we must also protect and nurture these trees to ensure they mature and serve both people and planet.”
Minister Bernadette Arakwiye underlined the importance of local action in global climate efforts. “This season’s launch reminds us that every tree counts. Nature-based solutions like this are key to Rwanda’s fight against climate change.”
The event also reflected AGRA’s ongoing commitment to supporting Rwanda’s agricultural transformation, climate adaptation, and food systems resilience contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for all.
Minister Bernadette Arakwiye emphasizes that every tree counts in Rwanda’s fight against climate change
AGRA Board chair alongside City Mayor and Minister of environment
“Planting alone is not enough; we must protect and nurture our trees,” says Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva.
