By Nathan Eyagu
Faith Patricia Ariokot, a prominent environmentalist and advocate for climate justice from Uganda, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing the Guinness World Record for the longest duration spent hugging a tree.
Ariokot, now recognized as the world record tree hugger, accomplished this extraordinary feat by embracing a tree for an impressive 16 hours and 6 minutes. This remarkable achievement, which surpassed the previous record of 10 hours and 5 minutes set by Adrienne Long in September 2020, took place during her reattempt on December 29, 2023, at Hotel May 7 in Soroti.
Expressing her elation, Ariokot took to her social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, to extend her heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported her throughout this challenging journey. She shared a screenshot of the email she received from the Guinness World Records (GWR) team, confirming her approval and official recognition as the record holder.
In her post, Ariokot expressed her gratitude, stating, "Dear Uganda, TESTED. APPROVED. TRUSTED. I want to extend the greatest appreciation to all those that have supported me throughout this record. It has not been an easy journey especially as I had to do this attempt 3 times. At 16 hours and 6 minutes, it is official. The record is home."
The message from the GWR team congratulated Ariokot, stating, "Dear Faith, We are thrilled to inform you that your application for the longest time to hug a tree has been successful and you are now the Guinness World Records Title Holder!"
Faith Patricia Ariokot's remarkable achievement not only highlights her personal dedication but also underscores the importance of environmental conservation and activism in combating climate change.
