MOGO Uganda Plants 500 Indigenous Trees to Restore Lazarus Forest

When businesses invest in nature, restoration becomes possible; when communities participate, ecosystems recover; and when impact is measured, sustainability becomes real. 

Guided by this belief, MOGO Uganda is taking tangible action to protect Uganda’s natural heritage. On November 14, 2025, the company, in partnership with Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU), Groundbreaker Talents, and the Bethany Land Institute, planted 500 indigenous trees at Lazarus Forest in Nandere, Luwero District. The effort supports the revival of a once-degraded ecosystem on Nandere Hill through community-led restoration. 

This event built on MOGO Uganda’s first engagement with Bethany Land Institute in April 2025, when 50 trees were planted to mark the beginning of an ongoing partnership. 

Through its sustainability pledge, MOGO Uganda plants five trees for every 1,000 loans issued, ensuring that its business growth contributes directly to environmental renewal. Each seedling was digitally mapped using the Tree Adoption Uganda mobile platform to enable long-term tracking and accountability. 

The project was made possible through the Eleving Group Environmental Grant Competition, which recognized MOGO Uganda for its innovative approach to linking lending with ecological restoration. 

“Through the Eleving Group Environmental Grant, Mogo Uganda contributed to meaningful environmental action. By supporting the restoration of the Lazarus Forest, the team demonstrated a shared commitment to protecting and renewing Uganda’s natural ecosystems. Another important value of this initiative was that it brought colleagues together, giving them the chance to collaborate, connect, and strengthen teamwork while making a positive impact. This initiative reflects Eleving Group’s dedication to responsible and sustainable business practices in every market we serve.” 
— Anna Audere, Impact and ESG 

The participation of Groundbreaker Talents was also deeply meaningful. MOGO Uganda has previously collaborated with the organization to attract and mentor young female professionals as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion. During the event, a representative from Groundbreaker Talents shared how this partnership creates real opportunities—highlighting that one of their former members now works at MOGO Uganda. This exchange showcased how shared values can foster both environmental and social progress. 

By planting and tracking 500 indigenous trees, MOGO Uganda contributes to Uganda’s national reforestation goals and strengthens local climate resilience. The initiative also highlights the importance of caring for the environment while continuing to serve and empower the communities around us. 

Lazarus Forest — A Living Symbol of Renewal 

Once a thriving ecosystem, the Lazarus Forest suffered decades of degradation from deforestation and charcoal burning. Streams dried up, biodiversity vanished, and the land became barren. 

In 2019, Fr. Joseph Kakooza Nyanzi and colleagues at Bethany Land Institute launched a 160-acre restoration program, renaming the site Lazarus Forest to symbolize renewal. They established nurseries for mivule, musizi, mahogany, and other native species, engaged local communities in protection efforts, and planted fast-growing boundary trees to secure the site. 

By 2023, more than 160 bird species had returned, including the Ross’s Turaco, and natural water flows had reemerged. Today, Lazarus Forest stands as Luwero District’s last remaining natural forest—a testament to the power of restoration, community action, and hope in renewal.