UBF applauded for bridging Uganda’s conservation funding gap – The Kampala Report

Various conservationists and natural resources managers have commended the Uganda Biodiversity Fund (UBF) for addressing the funding challenges in conservation efforts. Over the past eight years, UBF has mobilized and invested up to USD 10 million towards biodiversity conservation and restoration interventions in the country.

Akankwasah Barirega, the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), highlighted the critical importance of funding in conservation efforts, stating, “Funding is a very critical aspect in conservation efforts; without it, everything else is just conversation. Therefore, UBF deserves praise for having solved this issue, which would have otherwise held back our efforts.”

With this funding issue resolved, Akankwasah noted significant milestones in conservation, including policy formulation and implementation, supported by stakeholders like UBF.

“For example, forestry cover, which had reduced to 9.5 percent in 2015, now covers up to 13.5 percent, and we are on a positive trajectory to achieving 15 percent by 2030. For wildlife conservation, we have mixed results: in some areas, not so good; in other areas, excellent. The Mountain Gorilla population has increased from just 292 to over 500, and we now host more than half of the world’s population. This is a great success story,” he stated.

According to Barirega, Uganda currently has the highest growth rate of elephants in Africa, increasing from 1,900 individuals in 1995 to over 8,000 presently. The buffalo population has grown from 18,000 in 1995 to over 38,000, and the giraffe population has risen from only 153 to 1,650, as of the last census. “These achievements are not by accident but by deliberate efforts from multiple stakeholders like UBF,” he added.

Stuart Maniraguha, the acting Executive Director of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), revealed that UBF has supported the authority in developing innovative solutions for forest protection and restoration across the country. He mentioned that the two entities are implementing a joint project on community resilience in refugee camps and hosting communities.

Maniraguha also mentioned that the authority is advocating for the expansion of support to other forest reserves. “We do pray and hope that with UBF’s agility in mobilizing and securing resources, we should be able to expand our collaboration and focus on other forests. Of late, we are having discussions on how we can work on the Mabira Central Forest Reserve.”

As UBF celebrates its 8th anniversary, Ivan Amanigaruhanga, the fund’s Executive Director, mentioned that the organization was established specifically to mobilize and channel funds for biodiversity conservation and restoration, a purpose to which it has remained steadfast. Alongside this, UBF plays a catalytic role as an independent conservation trust fund.

Amanigaruhanga stated that, over the years, the fund has supported the training of up to 6,000 environmental conservation ambassadors, conserved over 1,000 hectares of woodlands, supported the regeneration of over 2,000 hectares of woodlands, restored up to 500 hectares of forests, and restored over 300 hectares of wetlands.

He added that these achievements were made possible through the efforts of implementing partners from the government, private sector, and civil society. He also noted that the fund has supported the establishment of smart agriculture sites, but acknowledged that the task ahead remains significant.

He further stated that, in collaboration with NEMA, the fund is supporting the introduction of the first-ever biodegradable plastics in the country. However, this project still requires up to USD 8 million to make a significant impact. Additionally, projects like the restoration of royal forests in Buganda, Bunyoro, and Busoga Kingdoms require USD 3 million, while a nationwide awareness campaign with the government needs USD 1.5 million.

“The fund has not yet greatly succeeded in unlocking local private sector support for biodiversity conservation and restoration efforts, except in a few cases,” he said.