Deforestation in Uganda

The clearing of the Bugoma Forest Reserve will affect Uganda’s biodiversity and the water level of the River Nile.

The Ugandan high court agreed that 900 hectares of the reserve could be cleared as it is located out of the protected area. The land - leased by the Hoima Sugar Company has cleared the area to be able to cultivate sugar plantations.

The company has said that the plantations would increase the standard of living for local people and have said they will build schools and a hospital as well as ensuring that any degraded areas are replanted.

Despite the economic and social benefits, there are grave concerns of the long term impacts on biodiversity as forested areas in Uganda have shrunk from 24% of the total land area in 1990 to 9% in 2015. Conservationists have set up a social media campaign called “Save Bugoma Forest” and there are hopes that the government will intervene.

For more on this article, check out the following report:

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/18/a-shame-for-the-world-ugandas-fragile-forest-ecosystem-destroyed-for-sugar