Baseline survey on deforestation situation in the West Nile Sub region

Owing to the high rate of deforestation in Uganda, especially in West Nile, JICA contracted consultants to study the deforestation and energy use situation in the sub region. A report (2018) by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development indicated that the primary source of energy in the West Nile sub region is firewood and timber accounting to 85%.

Therefore, the study that started in March 2021 was aimed at investigating the present situation and issues related to forest and natural resource use and management on the ground, so as to come up with potential support.

A field mission come to Uganda from Japan from 2nd to 23rd April. During the visit, the team met with officials from Office of the Prime Minister, local government leaders, refugee leadership, and development agencies in the West Nile region.

It was noted that interventions to curb the situation including Improved cooking stoves, Woodlot and Agro forestry, Tree seedling nurseries are ongoing, with support from both private and donor agencies(World Bank, GIZ, FAO, LWF, USAID, etc.) in licensing charcoal burners.

However, environment conservation and sustainable energy use is still a big challenge that should be prioritised whilst on the journey to develop the region, which also has a huge population growth.

A webinar was held on 21st April with various development partners and stakeholders to deliberate on possible collaboration to promote sustainable environment use. The study will continue until July 2021 and JICA will discuss potential support, basing on its outcome.