NANSANA, UGANDA – In a landmark moment for financial inclusion and environmental stewardship, Housing Finance Bank (HFB) officially opened its new Nansana Branch and simultaneously launched a major climate action effort in partnership with Greening Africa, the pioneer of Tiny Forests in urban Uganda.
This combined milestone signals a new era for the municipality—one where economic empowerment and environmental sustainability move hand in hand to support communities, families, and future generations.
A Branch Opening Rooted in Purpose
Speaking at the branch launch, Mr. Michael K. Mugabi, Managing Director of Housing Finance Bank, described the day as a “significant step toward bringing financial services closer to the people of Nansana while advancing environmental responsibility as a core pillar of the Bank’s mission.”
The new branch expands HFB’s footprint in one of Uganda’s fastest-growing urban communities, enabling residents, businesses, SACCOs, and institutions to access convenient and customer-centered banking solutions.
But the celebration did more than unveil a new branch.
It also reaffirmed the Bank’s unwavering commitment to climate action through its bold pledge to plant one million trees by 2027, a sustainability vision at the heart of HFB’s corporate strategy.
Planting the First Tiny Forest in Nansana
Immediately after the ribbon-cutting, the Bank—working hand in hand with Greening Africa Initiative—led the planting of a 300-tree Tiny Forest at Kazo Church of Uganda Nursery & Primary School.
This forest, the first of its kind in Nansana Municipality, includes a carefully selected mix of indigenous, fruit, medicinal, and bamboo species tailored to the local climate and long-term environmental resilience.
Tiny Forests are compact, fast-growing, biodiverse mini-ecosystems based on the famed Miyawaki method. Globally, they have proven to:
- Improve air quality
- Reduce heat stress in urban areas
- Attract pollinators
- Restore degraded soil
- Teach children hands-on environmental care
- Produce measurable carbon sequestration
In Uganda, Greening Africa has emerged as the national pioneer of the Tiny Forests model, adapting it to local conditions and integrating it into urban greening strategies across cities.
At the Nansana activity, teams from Housing Finance Bank, Greening Africa, Nansana Municipal Council, Kazo COU school leadership, and environmental clubs worked side by side to put the seedlings into the ground. Joyful learners participated with pride—many planting their very first tree.
Leaders Endorse the Movement
The ceremony was graced by senior leaders from Housing Finance Bank, including the Managing Director and Executive Director, as well as a distinguished Guest of Honour from the Bank of Uganda, who commended both organisations for their commitment to climate action.
Nansana Municipal leadership expressed their appreciation via official channels, noting that the tree planting exercise reinforces the municipality’s broader environmental targets.
This aligns with several shared goals:
- Creating greener and healthier learning environments for children
- Restoring urban biodiversity
- Supporting climate-friendly public spaces
- Strengthening community participation in environmental protection
The Municipality described the partnership as “a forward-looking step that positions Nansana among Uganda’s progressive green urban centres.”
Greening Africa: Building Tiny Forests, One City at a Time
In recent years, Greening Africa Initiative has become one of Uganda’s most dynamic and respected environmental actors—leading urban reforestation efforts, community education, and climate-resilience projects across the country.
The organisation has partnered with municipalities, banks, schools, cultural institutions, and development organisations to expand green cover and rebuild degraded ecosystems.
Through the pioneering Tiny Forests Campaign, Greening Africa:
- Designs, plants, and maintains compact forests in cities
- Engages schools through environmental clubs
- Promotes fruit and medicinal tree planting
- Supports carbon-sequestration measurement
- Mobilizes communities around climate action
- Integrates sustainability education into daily school life
Betty Kyakunzire, Project Manager at Greening Africa, emphasized the significance of the Nansana activation:
“This Tiny Forest is more than a collection of trees—it is a living classroom, a climate buffer, and a gift to future generations. We are proud to work with Housing Finance Bank, whose commitment to climate action is both genuine and bold. Together, we are proving that every community, no matter how urbanized, can reclaim green spaces and restore nature.”
A Powerful Statement of Corporate Leadership
Housing Finance Bank’s leadership in this initiative has been widely applauded across social platforms.
Posts from community members, environmentalists, and local authorities celebrated the Bank for championing sustainable finance and environmental responsibility.
One headline captured it best:
“Housing Finance Bank expands to Nansana; boosts environmental efforts with 300 new trees.”
Another from Nile Post highlighted dual impact:
“Branch opening meets sustainability action.”
In a landscape where financial institutions are increasingly expected to drive social and environmental value, HFB stands out as a bank that is not merely messaging sustainability but actively planting it—tree by tree, community by community.
The Road Ahead: More Forests, More Communities, More Impact
The Nansana Tiny Forest is only the beginning.
Greening Africa and Housing Finance Bank are working closely with Nansana Municipal Council to identify additional:
- Community open spaces
- School compounds
- Road reserves
- Public green zones
Where more Tiny Forests can be planted in the coming months.
Each forest contributes to HFB’s journey toward the 1 million trees by 2027 commitment and Greening Africa’s national target of building 30,000 Tiny Forests by 2030.
Together, they are transforming the environmental landscape of Uganda—one branch opening, one school, one neighbourhood, one Tiny Forest at a time.
Conclusion
The launch of the Housing Finance Bank Nansana Branch was more than a business expansion—it was a profound declaration of purpose.
By partnering with Greening Africa to plant the first Tiny Forest in Nansana, the Bank reaffirmed that economic growth and environmental restoration are not competing priorities—they are complementary pillars for a sustainable future.
In the words of a community resident who attended the ceremony:
“Today we saw what a bank can really be—not just a building, but a partner for people and the planet.”
And indeed, in Nansana, both people and planet have taken an important step forward.