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Origin of the National Forestry Authority
Government of Uganda, in 1998 adopted a policy to restructure many government departments including the Forestry Department. It recognized an urgent need for a change in the policy, legal framework and institutions controlling forestry in the country. There was a sense of crisis about the state of the country's forests and a particular outcry at the state of the forest reserves, in the hands of the Forestry Department. The sensitization Forestry Department was no longer appropriate for the task and therefore a need for it to be divested. It was decided that a new institutional arrangement was needed hence the Forestry Inspection Division, the National Forestry Authority and the District Forestry Services were set up.
Government of Uganda worked with DFID, Norway, GTZ, UNDP, FAO and the EU towards this institutional change since 1999. Having made the decision to close the Forestry Department, the Ministry pushed for a quick development and transition to, an NFA. So, the NFA became in 2003 under section 52 of The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act and was launched on the 26th April 2004.
Establishment of the National Forestry Authority was preceded by the development of the new Forestry Policy (2001) and the National Forest Plan (2002). These were to provide for a framework for distribution of roles and responsibilities amongst sector stakeholders and not just the Forestry Department.
NFA has a mandate of managing 506 Central Forest Reserves (CFR’s) totaling to 1,262,090 ha of the land cover, with objectives of improving management of the CFRs, expanding partnership arrangements, supplying forest and non-forest products and services and ensuring organizational stability.
Welcome to our Website. The National Forestry Authority (NFA) took over management of the 506 Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) in 2004 after the enactment of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003/8. NFA has a mandate to sustainably manage and develop the country’s central forest reserves and to provide quality forestry products and services for the socio-economic development of Uganda.
Over the years, NFA has designed varied strategies to enable it deliver on its mandate as spelt out above. Corporate Partnerships and Collaborative Forestry Management are some of the most significant strategies that NFA is focusing on for sustainable management of Central Forest Reserves in Uganda. We have embraced a number of corporate partnerships in tree planting for the restoration of the degraded reserves. We have also developed community partnerships in the conservation and protection of the forests adding hugely to the sustainable management and restoration of CFRs.
We would like to salute all corporate entities and Communities that have supported NFA in different ways throughout the management and conservation of Central Forest Reserves. Through the corporate tree planting partnerships we have been able to restore degraded forest cover in a number of Central Forest Reserves. This is an enormous indicator of public willingness to Partner with NFA in the management of Central Forest Reserves.
On another note, the Community tree planting program 2009-update is another program which has successfully encouraged tree planting in communities all over the country. With support from the Government of Uganda, NFA under this program raises seedlings and supplies them to community based organized groups, community leaders, cultural institutions, individuals and other public institutions like hospitals and schools and many trees have been planted through this programme.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to all the stakeholders who have raised the profile of issues in the forestry and the environmental sectors as a whole. The efforts they have put in have raised a great deal of public interest and a sense of responsibility and love for the Forestry Sector. As we are continue with efforts to improve the management of Central Forest Reserves, I call for more public and corporate partnerships to mitigate the negative effects of poor forest resource utilization for the common good.
Tom Okello Obong
Executive Director
National Forestry Authority.
National Forestry Authority
Head Offices
Plot 10/20, Spring Road,P.O. Box 70863, Kampala - Uganda
Telephone Contacts:
+256-312-264035/6
+256-312-230400
Fax :+256-414-230369
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Origin of the National Forestry Authority
Government of Uganda, in 1998 adopted a policy to restructure many government departments including the Forestry Department. It recognized an urgent need for a change in the policy, legal framework and institutions controlling forestry in the country. There was a sense of crisis about the state of the country's forests and a particular outcry at the state of the forest reserves, in the hands of the Forestry Department. The sensitization Forestry Department was no longer appropriate for the task and therefore a need for it to be divested. It was decided that a new institutional arrangement was needed hence the Forestry Inspection Division, the National Forestry Authority and the District Forestry Services were set up.
Government of Uganda worked with DFID, Norway, GTZ, UNDP, FAO and the EU towards this institutional change since 1999. Having made the decision to close the Forestry Department, the Ministry pushed for a quick development of, and transition to, an NFA. So, the NFA became in 2003 under section 52 of The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act and was launched on the 26th April 2004.
Establishment of the National Forestry Authority was preceded by the development of the new Forestry Policy (2001) and the National Forest Plan (2002). These were to provide for a framework for distribution of roles and responsibilities amongst sector stakeholders and not just the Forestry Department.
Institutional structure and human resources
We have developed an organisational structure for the National Forestry Authority that divides work among its employees and shows a co-ordination of activities so that they are directed towards achieving business goals. The Authority reports to government through the Minister responsible for forestry, and is supervised by a Board of Directors. The structure provides for:
- economic and efficient use of resources: forest reserves, money, people, physical and biological assets,
- accountability for areas of work undertaken by divisions, coordination units, ranges, sectors, beats and individuals,
- co-ordination of different parts of the organisation to ensure they work towards a common goal.
The NFA organisational structure translates into 335 employees that are deployed both at headquarter and in the field. There is a comprehensive human resources manual together with administrative policies that were developed that make NFA staff a well-motivated team. The employees are well paid and receive motivation based on excellent performance.
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