Uganda’s environment dilemma as the country’s forest cover dwindles

The use of fire wood to cook by the majority of people in Uganda has exerted pressure on Uganda’s forests. PHOTO BY ZAHARA ABIGABA

What you need to know:

Human activity is main cause of deforestation, largely exacerbated by a high population growth rate of 3.2 percent per annum.

Kampala

Ms Nalika Musoke, 41, a mother of five, sells merchandise at home to supplement her meager income. Selling firewood has also helped Ms Musoke to educate her children.
“Five years ago, we used to get firewood from Mabira Forest but now it is really hard to get it since most trees in the forest have been cut down,” Ms Musoke says.
She says whenever they attempt to collect firewood in the forest, they are harassed by forest guards.
Five years ago, a bundle of firewood ago costed Shs2,000 but now it goes for Shs4,000. She sells three pieces of firewood at her kiosk at Shs1,000. “If I had electricity to cook and light, I would not be using firewood,” she says.
Ms Musoke says charcoal is also very expensive since a sack that used to go for Shs10,000 two years ago, in her area, is now at Shs15,000 yet in urban areas like Kampala, it is sold at Shs30,000.

Environmental danger
According to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) the annual consumption of wood is estimated at 33 million tonnes, much of it being used as household fuel and timber.
The environment watchdog says only 10 per cent of Uganda’s population has access to electricity, leaving 89 per cent of people mainly in rural areas depending on wood for fuel. Dr Aryamanya-Mugisha, Nema’s executive director warns that the country’s environment is in danger and much of its forests will be no more by 2050 if nothing is done. Taking environment for granted will in future have serious implications since natural resources are declining at a high rate.
Human activity is main cause of deforestation, largely exacerbated by a high population growth rate of 3.2 percent per annum.
The 2008 State of Uganda Environment Report 2008 indicates that forests have been one of Uganda’s key natural resources contributing two per cent of the GDP. Forests are currently facing serious threats with at least 1.2 million hectares of forest cover lost between 1990 and 2005.
The report shows that the country’s forest cover was at 5,000,000 hectares in 1990 but by 2005, it had reduced to 3.5 million hectares.

Bare space
Mayuge District has lost much of its forest cover.
It is closely followed by Wakiso which has a deforestation rate of 87 per cent, Mubende (79 percent), Mityana (60 per cent) and Kibaale (49 per cent).

The report shows that Kibaale’s forest cover which stood at 111,102.66 hectares in 1990 has reduced to 58,268.06 hectares, indicating a loss of 55, 834.60 hectares.
The National Forest Authority’s Spokesman, Mr Moses Watasa explains that deforestation has been growing at an average rate of 13.7 per cent over the last 5 years because of the increasing demand for timber.