BPR Bank Rwanda Plc says it plans to plant more than 10,000 trees in Kigali this year, including 9,000 fruit trees set to be planted before year’s end, as part of its campaign to fight climate change and support food security.
The bank announced the initiative Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, as its leadership and employees joined residents in the monthly community service known as umuganda. The activity took place in Nyarugenge District’s Kigali Sector, in an area known as Norvège, where volunteers planted 1,150 trees to curb soil erosion and beautify the area.
Another 4,000 agroforestry trees were planted in Gasabo District’s Gikomero Sector in partnership with Rwanda Trading Company, a major coffee processor and client of the bank.
BPR Bank CEO Patience Mutesi joined senior bank officials, local leaders and community members in the event.
The tree-planting campaign is part of the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy aimed at improving community welfare. Jean Marc Gakwandi, the bank’s Head of Retail, said BPR seeks to align its outreach efforts with Rwanda’s national development goals.
“Community development is central to our mission,” he said. “Tree planting aligns with the country’s sustainable development agenda.”
Gakwandi also encouraged residents to adopt a culture of saving, calling it critical for long-term financial stability.
“Saving is like planting a tree you invest today and benefit in the future,” he said.
The bank says it tracks the growth of the trees it plants to ensure they reach maturity and deliver the intended environmental and economic benefits. Next week, BPR is scheduled to plant 9,000 additional fruit trees in Mageragere Sector.
Rwanda Trading Company CEO Jean Jacques Ndayisenga said his company partnered with BPR on the activity because of their strong business relationship and shared commitment to environmental protection.
In 2024, the City of Kigali announced that all undeveloped spaces would be required to include green areas as part of its urban cleanliness and beautification plan. The city aims to add at least 4 million new trees by 2026.
