environment 17 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Nwoya District Faces Severe Drought as 15,000 Hectares of Forest Vanish
Nwoya District in Uganda has experienced a drastic reduction in forest cover, losing an estimated 15,000 hectares between 2011 and 2025. This deforestation is directly linked to prolonged droughts, crop failure, and growing food insecurity within the region. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nwoya-loses-15-000-hectares-of-forest-in-15-years-5598078
Nwoya District is grappling with an environmental crisis marked by the loss of approximately 15,000 hectares of its natural forest cover over a 15-year period. Officials report that before 2010, the district boasted around 59,000 hectares of forest, a figure that has significantly diminished, with many areas now replaced by bare ground and grasslands.
This alarming rate of deforestation has been identified as a primary driver of the severe and prolonged droughts currently affecting the district. According to Emmanuel Omara, the District Forestry Officer, the reduced forest canopy is exacerbating climate impacts, leading to crop failures and a heightened risk of hunger among the local population. Farmers who planted crops early in the season faced devastation, and subsequent attempts at a second planting have largely failed.
Several factors contribute to this environmental degradation. Commercial farming operations clearing large tracts of land, the unsustainable harvesting of trees for charcoal production, and encroachment into vital wetlands are cited as major culprits. Senior Environment Officer Evelyn Acan highlighted that cultivation within wetlands, disregarding necessary buffer zones, and the subsequent pollution of water systems with herbicides and pesticides are further compounding the issue.
In response to the escalating crisis, Nwoya’s Department of Natural Resources has initiated mitigation efforts. These include the distribution of energy-saving cookstoves to reduce fuelwood demand in schools and the demarcation of sensitive ecosystems. Additionally, bamboo has been planted along river catchments to combat soil erosion. International organizations like ActionAid Uganda are also engaged in community sensitisation programs to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices as part of global climate action initiatives.