To mark the national tree planting season, Green City Kigali, in collaboration with Kinyinya sector, ARCOS Network and NCBA Bank Rwanda and community members have planted up to 10,000 indigenous trees in Kinyinya on Saturday, 25 October 2025.
This year’s tree planting season is themed “Igiti Cyanjye, Umurage Wanjye” which translates to “My Tree, my Legacy”. The theme is an important reminder of the personal and intergenerational importance of trees as we build a green and resilient future.
The annual tree planting season is one of the country’s strategic initiatives to combat climate change, restore forests, control erosion, and protect the environment through reforestation and afforestation. Over the past few years, this effort has helped to maintain and increase the country’s forest cover that grew from 10% in 2013 to over 30.4% by 2025.
“Planting trees is more than a one-day activity. It’s an important step in building a greener, more livable city. With our communities and partners like ARCOS and NCBA Bank Rwanda, we’re making sure these trees don’t just get planted, but grow and thrive so they can provide ecosystem benefits and improve the quality of life in our urban neighbourhoods for years to come,” said Basil Karimba, CEO of Green City Kigali.
During the Umuganda activity, participants planted up to 10,000 indigenous trees with diverse species such as Maesa lanceolata, Polycicas fulva, Albizia adianthifolia, Podocarpus falcatus, Markhamia lutea, Maesopsis eminii, Ficus sp, Mitragyna, and Croton megalocarpus. These species were selected based on their suitability to the Kinyinya landscape and diverse ecological benefits. Trees were planted across the greenfield areas and blue-green productive corridors which are zones dedicated to public spaces, parks, passive recreational and eco-tourism zones, according to the 600-hectare Green City Kigali Masterplan, pictured below.
Green City Kigali in collaboration with ARCOS, NCBA Bank Rwanda and Kinyinya community will continue to work together to plant 13,300 more trees to bring it to a total of 23,300 trees on a 20-hectare area in Rusenyi village, Murama cell, Kinyinya sector. Additionally, partners will work together to establish a native tree nursery in Kinyinya that will create jobs and improve access to native tree seedlings needed on the hill.
To build a green neighborhood in Kinyinya, the Green City Kigali masterplan includes space for more than 72,000 native trees. These trees will provide shade, improve safety, clean the air, manage rainwater, and help reduce heat in the area. Together, they will create environmental and social benefits that support the sustainability we’re working toward.
The October monthly Umuganda in Kinyinya brought together other key stakeholders such as security organs, youth volunteers, and students. The main message to take home was to put efforts together in building and living in a safe, clean, green and resilient Kinyinya.
Read the masterplan to learn more about climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in Green City Kigali.