National Forestry Authority’s (NFA) capacity to monitor forests using smart technology has been enhanced with equipment support from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). NFA received the equipment at their head office in Bugolobi.

The equipment included twenty (20) smart phones, eight (8) GPS units, ten (10) Laptop computers and twenty (20) power banks worth eighty seven million nine hundred and four thousand (87,904,000) ugx.

While receiving the equipments on 16th August 2021, the Executive Director (ED) National Forestry Authority Mr. Tom Okello thanked WCS for the continued support towards conservation of forests. He reminded that they have been supportive in building human capacity of the forest rangers and the law enforcement teams over time.

He mentioned that law enforcement and management of natural resources will be easy now with the use of modern technology tools that will help in monitoring and evaluation of the forest cover. He said that trends have changed now thus the ICT would facilitate better management of forests. However emphasized on developing basic guidelines that would facilitated proper utilization of the machines.

The ED boasted that NFA has the finest GIS lab and over the time built the capacity in monitoring land cover and land use in Uganda thus guiding policy and planning for natural resources.

While handing over the ICT equipments the Director Landscape Ecology and Technology services at WCS, Dr. Grace Nangendo informed that this support is from a project aimed promoting conservation in the Albertine region. She added that the equipments will enable NFA staff record and share real time forestry activities using smart technology.

World over, forests are a key resource serving a mass of functions, like providing industries with raw materials, employment to communities, providing habitants for wildlife which boosts tourism, sequestering carbon and maintaining biodiversity among others thus sustainable forest should be prioritized.

Public Relations Unit.

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) field staff in the Albertine region are undergoing a a three day training (25th-27th August 2021) on forest data collection using smart technology tools like mobile phones, geographical positioning system units. The training targets staff from Mizizi River and Budongo systems ranges.

The training is organised by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Hoima town and practices were carried out in Wambabya central forest reserve. WCS has been a consistent partner is supporting conservation and protection of ecosystems.

While opening the training, the Coordinator Natural Forests Management at NFA, Stephen Galima noted that the time is ripe for NFA to strengthen its capacity in the use information communication technology tools in monitoring and management of forests because the trends have changed and thanked WCS for being a supportive partner in this area.

According to Paul Hatanga the project manager; “This is a pilot project that ends in December 2021 however the results of the project will determine the next cause of action, our goal is focused on the sustainability of real time and corrected forest management data that will be collected and shared for better management, planning and monitoring of central forest reserves”.

Under the same project WCS has supported restoration in Rwensama, Itwara and Nyabyeya central forest reserves, boundary opening/marking of Nyabyeya CFR Rwensama and Muhangi CFR, have also established woodlots in communities in the Albertine graben. The project operates in Hoima, Kikube, Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts.

The 2017 National Biomass Report reveals an increase in forest cover from 9% in 2015 to 12.4% in 2017 thus this success should be jealously kept by improving management approaches, enhance protection, carry on restoration program, establish more plantations so as to achieve the National Development Plan III which targets to increase Uganda’s forest cover to 15% by 2025.

National Forestry Authority’s (NFA) capacity to monitor forests using smart technology has been enhanced with equipment support from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). NFA received the equipment at their head office in Bugolobi.

The equipment included twenty (20) smart phones, eight (8) GPS units, ten (10) Laptop computers and twenty (20) power banks worth eighty seven million nine hundred and four thousand (87,904,000) ugx.

While receiving the equipments on 16th August 2021, the Executive Director (ED) National Forestry Authority Mr. Tom Okello thanked WCS for the continued support towards conservation of forests. He reminded that they have been supportive in building human capacity of the forest rangers and the law enforcement teams over time.

He mentioned that law enforcement and management of natural resources will be easy now with the use of modern technology tools that will help in monitoring and evaluation of the forest cover. He said that trends have changed now thus the ICT would facilitate better management of forests. However emphasized on developing basic guidelines that would facilitated proper utilization of the machines.

The ED boasted that NFA has the finest GIS lab and over the time built the capacity in monitoring land cover and land use in Uganda thus guiding policy and planning for natural resources.

While handing over the ICT equipments the Director Landscape Ecology and Technology services at WCS, Dr. Grace Nangendo informed that this support is from a project aimed promoting conservation in the Albertine region. She added that the equipments will enable NFA staff record and share real time forestry activities using smart technology.

World over, forests are a key resource serving a mass of functions, like providing industries with raw materials, employment to communities, providing habitants for wildlife which boosts tourism, sequestering carbon and maintaining biodiversity among others thus sustainable forest should be prioritized.

Public Relations Unit.

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) field staff in the Albertine region are undergoing a a three day training (25th-27th August 2021) on forest data collection using smart technology tools like mobile phones, geographical positioning system units. The training targets staff from Mizizi River and Budongo systems ranges.

The training is organised by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Hoima town and practices were carried out in Wambabya central forest reserve. WCS has been a consistent partner is supporting conservation and protection of ecosystems.

While opening the training, the Coordinator Natural Forests Management at NFA, Stephen Galima noted that the time is ripe for NFA to strengthen its capacity in the use information communication technology tools in monitoring and management of forests because the trends have changed and thanked WCS for being a supportive partner in this area.

According to Paul Hatanga the project manager; “This is a pilot project that ends in December 2021 however the results of the project will determine the next cause of action, our goal is focused on the sustainability of real time and corrected forest management data that will be collected and shared for better management, planning and monitoring of central forest reserves”.

Under the same project WCS has supported restoration in Rwensama, Itwara and Nyabyeya central forest reserves, boundary opening/marking of Nyabyeya CFR Rwensama and Muhangi CFR, have also established woodlots in communities in the Albertine graben. The project operates in Hoima, Kikube, Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts.

The 2017 National Biomass Report reveals an increase in forest cover from 9% in 2015 to 12.4% in 2017 thus this success should be jealously kept by improving management approaches, enhance protection, carry on restoration program, establish more plantations so as to achieve the National Development Plan III which targets to increase Uganda’s forest cover to 15% by 2025.

National Forestry Authority’s (NFA) capacity to monitor forests using smart technology has been enhanced with equipment support from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). NFA received the equipment at their head office in Bugolobi.

The equipment included twenty (20) smart phones, eight (8) GPS units, ten (10) Laptop computers and twenty (20) power banks worth eighty seven million nine hundred and four thousand (87,904,000) ugx.

While receiving the equipments on 16th August 2021, the Executive Director (ED) National Forestry Authority Mr. Tom Okello thanked WCS for the continued support towards conservation of forests. He reminded that they have been supportive in building human capacity of the forest rangers and the law enforcement teams over time.

He mentioned that law enforcement and management of natural resources will be easy now with the use of modern technology tools that will help in monitoring and evaluation of the forest cover. He said that trends have changed now thus the ICT would facilitate better management of forests. However emphasized on developing basic guidelines that would facilitated proper utilization of the machines.

The ED boasted that NFA has the finest GIS lab and over the time built the capacity in monitoring land cover and land use in Uganda thus guiding policy and planning for natural resources.

While handing over the ICT equipments the Director Landscape Ecology and Technology services at WCS, Dr. Grace Nangendo informed that this support is from a project aimed promoting conservation in the Albertine region. She added that the equipments will enable NFA staff record and share real time forestry activities using smart technology.

World over, forests are a key resource serving a mass of functions, like providing industries with raw materials, employment to communities, providing habitants for wildlife which boosts tourism, sequestering carbon and maintaining biodiversity among others thus sustainable forest should be prioritized.

Public Relations Unit.

National Forestry Authority, Kampala, 19^th February 2019 — National Forestry Authority notes with concern that there are people who have fraudulently acquired illegal land titles in Central Forest Reserves (CFRs). In December 2017, a list people with illegal titles were advertised in the print media and notice given for the titles to be cancelled. To date we have noticed that more people continue to be duped into buying land situated in CFRs.

Central Forest Reserves’ land is only meant for forestry and forestry-related activities such as tree planting, ecotourism and other activities stipulated in section 13 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003 that emphasizes forests to be managed in a manner consistent with the purpose for which they were declared. Relatedly section 14 of the same Act prohibits activities such as cutting, disturbing, damaging, burning, or destroying any forest produce, or removing or reducing any forest produce except in accordance with the regulations and after a comprehensive Environment and Social Impacts have been assessed and confirmed by issuing of certificate of approval from National Environment Management Authority.

Today a responsible and patriotic citizen Mr. Osany Fredrick Erau of Erau’s Estate surrenders a land title covering a total of 611 ha illegally obtained in 1994, in Akileng Central Forest Reserve located in Amuria district. Akileng CFR was gazetted for ecotourism purposes and to protect marshland swamps in the forest i.e. Akileng swamp, and contribute to regulation of climate in Teso, and also to supply poles and firewood. 

Going forward, NFA calls upon all Ugandans to emulate Mr. Osany and surrender titles illegally acquired in any Central Forest Reserve. We inform the Public especially those interested in acquiring land neighbouring Central Forest Reserves to always verify with Ministry of Lands to ascertain the status of land ownership.

Central Forest Reserves are gazetted by Parliament, and the process for gazetting and degazzetting is clear in section 6, 7, 8 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003.

I would to thank everyone who has supported me in my few months I have served as ED NFA. Because of the immense support from my Minister, the Board of Directors, staff and partners, we have achieved the following among others;

• In the last six months, over 300 kilometers of boundary lines have been opened and planted with permanent pillars with support from USAID.
• Over 2000 hectares of degraded forests have been restored through restoration and enrichment planting.
• Over 2,500 hectares of forest land have been planted with new trees.
• We have raised over 10m seedlings for community tree planting
• We have new Projects and programs in the pipeline in collaboration with partners such as UNHCR project in partnership with NFA is going to fund tree planting in refugee hosting communities to reverse the deforestation caused by refugees
• NFA is working with International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) on development of bamboo strategy for Uganda. This will include development of bamboo nurseries and plantations.
• Forest Management Plans for Agora Agu and Kalagala – Itanda Falls CFRs have been developed.
• FAO in partnership with NFA are working on biomass studies, national forests inventory and National forests monitoring system. Soon we will be unveiling the new vegetation cover map for the country.

I encourage all Ugandans to abide by the laws governing natural resource management in the Country more so forests since our economy heavily depends on agriculture which is supported by natural systems forests inclusive.

Rain is soon starting. We have 35 tree seedling nurseries spread across the country ready to serve you. Please let us plant as much trees as we can in 2019.

For further information, please, contact Aisha Alibhai Communications and Public Relations Manager on tel; 0772527106 or Juliet Mubi on tel; 0772093372, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

END

Tom .O. Okello

Executive Director