Welsh Government £4m overseas tree planting scheme in Uganda questioned
Reform UK has called for an immediate end to overseas aid funded by Welsh taxpayers following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about a tree planting project in Uganda.
The FOI request asked the Welsh Government for details about the Mbale Trees project, which aims to tackle deforestation in Mbale, Uganda.
The programme reportedly plants millions of trees annually and provides sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
It also forms part of the Welsh Government’s Plant! Scheme, which plants two trees for every child born or adopted in Wales—one in Uganda and one in Wales.
Since July 2015, the Welsh Government has allocated £4,057,687 to the Size of Wales programme for the Mbale Trees project. However, the FOI revealed that detailed invoices or contracts are held by third-party groups, not the Welsh Government.
Three assessment reports on the project’s effectiveness were provided, though some parts were heavily redacted.
Reform UK expressed concerns about transparency and oversight, describing the monitoring as reliant on informal meetings and vague arrangements.
Laura Anne Jones, Reform UK Member of the Senedd for South Wales East, said, “While our NHS is on its knees, schools are struggling, and families can’t make ends meet, the Welsh Government is funding forests in Uganda. It’s indefensible. Public money should serve the public here at home not fund overseas pet projects.”
Ahead of next year’s Senedd elections, Reform UK has called for a full audit of all Welsh Government overseas aid activities, an immediate end to foreign aid spending from devolved budgets, and a ‘Cymru First’ policy prioritising Wales’ communities.
Welsh Government Ministers have previously defended the project. Last November, Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said, “This isn’t just about planting trees, it’s about engaging people of all ages in Wales and Africa on climate change and the importance of trees and forests as part of the solution. We have made phenomenal progress in recent years, edging towards our ambitious target of 25 million trees planted by 2025, benefitting not just the environment but many people’s livelihoods too.”
Minister for Climate Change Julie James added, “The Mbale Trees programme and Plant! show our commitment to tackling the climate emergency, by both raising awareness of the plight of deforestation and how we can tackle it.”
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