Beyond Planting Trees: How MIGAU Fights Global Warming on the Frontlines

When people hear about tree planting, they often picture rows of saplings and eager volunteers with shovels. While important, planting trees is only one part of the puzzle. At Make It Green Again Uganda (MIGAU), tree planting is the doorway to a much broader and more impactful strategy against global warming.

MIGAU’s mission began in 2016, rooted in the urgent need to counter rampant deforestation in Uganda and its ripple effects on climate and community health. Since then, MIGAU has planted over 3.8 million native trees across Uganda. These trees are more than greenery; they are carbon sinks, absorbing harmful CO2 from the atmosphere, cooling the climate, and helping restore ecosystems ravaged by human activity.

But MIGAU understands that planting trees alone will not solve the climate crisis. That’s why their work goes deeper.

Clean cooking solutions are one of the most innovative weapons in MIGAU’s climate arsenal. In rural Uganda, most households still rely on traditional wood-burning stoves, which emit dangerous pollutants and accelerate deforestation. By promoting improved cookstoves and alternative energy like biogas and solar, MIGAU helps families cut firewood use, reduce emissions, and save time and money.

Then there’s e-waste management—a growing but often overlooked problem. Old phones, computers, and appliances are often dumped improperly, leaking harmful chemicals into the soil and water. MIGAU educates communities on how to safely dispose of and recycle electronic waste, turning a growing threat into a new opportunity for environmental health.

Water conservation, agroforestry, and sustainable livelihood projects like avocado and beetroot farming all feed into this ecosystem of solutions. They empower local people not just to survive but to lead the fight against climate change with tools that make economic and ecological sense.

MIGAU’s work shows that when conservation is rooted in community and creativity, it can go far beyond replanting what was lost—it can reimagine what is possible.

Want to join the frontline of change? Donate, partner, or volunteer with MIGAU today and be part of a movement that goes beyond the roots.