British American Tobacco Uganda Ltd. (BATU) plans to plant 2.5 million trees this year as it strives to become self-reliant in the wood it needs for curing the crop.

BAT Uganda has raised 2.3 million eucalyptus seedlings and will also plant indigenous varieties, the Kampala-based company said in an advert published today in New Vision newspaper. BAT said it started a tree-planting program in 2004 with the aim of being self-reliant by 2015.

To contact the reporter on this story: Fred Ojambo in Kampala at fojambo@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net