By Emmy Delux Alomu
TESO:The Anglican Bishop of Soroti Diocese, Rt. Rev. Kosea Odongo has warned of tough disciplinary action against religious leaders in the diocese flouting tree-planting directive.
In 2025, Bishop Odongo, issued a strict directive to all the clergy, including priests and lay readers not to preside over any burial rite, unless the bereaved family has planted 100 trees.
He extended the same requirement to all major life celebrations in the diocese, including wedding, birthdays, bridal introductions, thanksgiving events and celebrations of pregnancy and childbirth.
However, while preaching during the burial of Emmanuel Oguya, a renowned businessman in Orungo town Amuria district on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Bishop Odongo expressed deep concern over some clerics whom he accused of disregarding his directive.
He noted that he has received numerous reports of some clerics in the diocese, especially in Orungo archdeaconry, are presiding over funeral rites and other functions without families planting trees contrary to his earlier directive.
“Before you start conducting any burial rite, please ask the bereaved family or the organisers for trees. Without them please leave that place,” Bishop Odongo told the clergy present at the burial.
Bishop Odongo, warned that any cleric who continues with a service, does not mean well for the people left behind.
The prelate also encouraged families to incorporate tree seedlings into customary marriages.
According to Bishop Odongo, a suitor, the responsibility of environmental protection should be included in the letter the suitor presents to the bride’s parents.
“I want us to add the aspect of trees, even when the envelope of money is presented to you without a tree, do not allow your daughter to go”, he said.
This, according to him, is a response to severe effects of climate change, which have threatened biodiversity, disrupted livelihoods and increased health risks linked to vector and water-borne diseases.
The prelate explained that climate change is now a reality driven by continued human activities such as cultivation of wetlands, bush burning and felling of trees in large scale for charcoal burning without replacement.
“Uganda’s forest cover has heavily been depleted over decades due to deforestation, charcoal burning, and expansion of farmlands”, Bishop.
Teso Sub-region remains particularly vulnurable to prolonged dry spell, errantic rainfall that have continued to undermine farming, the main source of livelihood for many families.
Bishop Odongo also encouraged the community to live in harmony with God’s will, reminding them that faith and compassion should lead their actions.
He further urged the people not to pressure the widow and orphans, recognizing their vulnerability during such a difficult moment.
