About NFA

Overview

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) was established under Section 52 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, and officially launched on
26th April 2004, in line with the 2001 National Forestry Policy. NFA is mandated to: “Manage Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) on a sustainable basis and supply high-quality forestry-related products and services to the government, local communities, and the private sector.”

NFA is responsible for the sustainable management of 506 Central Forest Reserves (CFRs), covering approximately 1,265,741 hectares of Uganda’s land area. Its core objectives include:

  • Enhancing the management and protection of CFRs
  • Expanding partnership arrangements
  • Supplying both forest and non-forest products and services
  • Strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring organisational sustainability

Board of Directors

The Board wishes to thank all those who contribute towards the success of the NFA as we work towards achieving “A sufficiently forested, ecologically stable, and economically prosperous Uganda”.

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) was established under the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2001, as a Government parastatal responsible for the management of (506) Central Forest Reserves. The NFA is under the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and is headed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister.

The Board of Directors is responsible, under the NFTP Act, for the proper management of the funds of the NFA. Section 71 of the Act mandates the B.O.D to perform its functions in accordance with sound financial and commercial practices and shall ensure that revenue is sufficient to meet expenditure. The Board accepts responsibility for general direction and supervision of the Authority which include:

  1. Review and approval of operating plans, budgets, reports and audited financial statements of the Authority;
  2. Oversee the operations of the Authority;
  3. Provide guidance to the Executive Director and staff of the Authority;
  4. Establish and approve rules and procedures for appointment, termination, discipline and terms and conditions of service of staff of the Authority.
Dr. Eng. Christopher Ebal

Chairman

Mrs. Tina Achilla

Member

Ms. Charity Chebet

Member

Dr. Abdullahi Hussein Shire

Member

Mr. Stuart Maniraguha

Member

Directorates

The Office of the Executive Director at National Forestry Authority is responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of the authority subject to section 19 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003/8. The Executive Director is empowered to:-

  • The implementation of policies and programs of the Authority and reporting to the Board of Directors.
  • The proper management of the funds and property of the Authority;
  • The organization and control of the staff of the Authority;
  • The development of an operating plan to guide the Authority in achieving its objectives;
  • The development of the management plans for the utilization of forestry resources in the central forest reserves;
  • Co-operation with other lead agencies and organizations in the forest sector;
  • The development of an economic, efficient and cost effective internal management structure;
  • Performing any other duty that may be assigned to him or her by the Board.

The Plantations Directorate of National Forestry Authority is responsible for establishment and management of forest plantations and tree seedling nurseries in designated plantation areas under National Forestry Authority.

The Unit is headed by a Director at NFA headquarters with seven plantation areas managed by Plantation Managers, supported by Sector Managers and Forest Supervisors.

Management Areas: NFA has 6 plantation areas as indicated below:

  • Bugamba Plantations comprising of Rwemitongore, Kyahi, Bugamba and Rwoho Plantations. Kyahi and Rwemitongore are for production of Eucalyptus poles and timber while Bugamba and Rwoho are for Pine and Cypress. Total planted area to date is 11,322 ha. The plantations are found in the Districts of Mbarara, Isingiro and Ntungamo.
  • Mafuga Plantations comprising of Kabale, Mafuga, Kirima, Muko and Echuya plantations for production of Eucalyptus, Pine and Cypress. The plantations with a planted area of 3,432 ha are located in the Districts of Kabale, Kanungu and Kisoro.
  • Mwenge Plantations comprising Oruha and Kyehara, Kikumiro and Kagorra plantations in Kyenjojo District with a planted area of 1,711 ha of both Pine and Eucalyptus
  • Katuugo Plantations comprising Katuugo and Kasagala Plantations in Nakasongola District with a total planted area of 2,550 ha.
  • Lendu Plantations comprising Lendu, Okavureru, Usi and Awang Plantations, in Zombo District with a planted area of 2296 ha of both Eucalyptus and Pine.
  • South Busoga located in Mayuge district with a planted area of 2499 ha.

The Directorate of Legal and Corporate Affairs (DLCA) offers support to the National Forestry Authority fulfill its mandate of managing Central Forest Reserves on a sustainable basis and supply forestry related products and services to Government, Communities and the Private sector. The Directorate handles issues to do with Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Reporting, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping, Legal Affairs, Business Development, Supervision and monitoring compliance to NFA policy guidelines and standards.

The Directorate works hand in hand with other Directorates to achieve NFA’s strategic objectives of improving management of all Central Forest Reserves, Expanding partnership arrangements, Supply quality forest and non-forest products and services and attain organizational sustainability.

The Legal and Corporate Affairs directorate is headed by the Director. The directorate also plays a management role at the National Forestry Authority, the directorate is comprised of five Units (i) planning, (ii) Legal Affairs (iii) Monitoring and Evaluation, (iv) GIS and Mapping, (v) Business Development, . Each of the unit is headed by a coordinator.

The Directorate of Finance and Administration plays a key support function to all the other departments in the National Forestry Authority; the finance directorate has five (5) units namely the accounts and finance unit, procurement unit, transport unit and the administration unit.

This Finance and administration directorate is dedicated to do financial planning, financial management, and provision of operating funds, financial reporting and analysis.

Development and coordination of effective revenue collection system, policies and procedures ensure inadequate controls are in place to maintain proper books of account.

Major tasks for the Directorate
  • Preparation of annual accounts.
  • Preparing annual operation plans and budgeting.
  • Monitoring of financial performance.
  • Establishment of stringent expenditure controls.
  • Liaising with external auditors.
  • Budgetary planning, monitoring and analysis.
  • Preparation of final accounts.
  • Giving financial advice to management among many tasks we perform.
  • Ensuring availability of office supply.
  • Ensuring cleanliness and functioning of the building.
  • Administration of stores.
  • Administration of records and the library.
  • Administration of the NFA rental Units.
  • Ensuring security of and access of the NFA headquarter building.

The Directorate of Natural Forests Management is one of the five directorates within the Authority headed by the Director; The  director oversees the four (4) management units namely Natural Forest Management, Partnership and Private Investment, Law Enforcement, and Inventory and Boundary Surveys. The directorate majorly focuses on restoring of the integrity of the central forest reserves, develop and innovate new products and services, improve ecotourism management and increase forest coverage across the CFR’s in the Country.

The directorate has registered a number of achievements in the management and conservation of the natural forests, including establishment of plantations for forest products, promotion of private sector planting of 37,000 ha in central forest reserves and to date 40 CFM agreements signed with communities in addition to MOU’s signed and currently under implementation with various partners. The natural forest directorate is currently implementing the Collaborative Forestry Management plan devised to foster mutually beneficial or partnerships with communities in which a local forest user group and NFA as a responsible body share rights, responsibilities and returns (benefits) in a forest reserve or part of it. The decision to engage communities was premised on the understanding within NFA that a Forest Reserve can only be adequately managed if co-operation of the forest adjacent communities is obtained. The focus of CFM programme is therefore on: Ensuring stakeholder participation, collective responsibility and equity, and improving the livelihoods of forest dependent communities.