The National Forestry Authority (NFA), Gro Foundation, and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) have initiated a partnership to restore and protect Mpanga Central Forest Reserve (CFR), a critical tropical forest ecosystem near urban centers.
The three entities met on April 25 at Mpanga CFR to chart a path toward a collaborative forest restoration program, which will also empower local communities and promote long-term environmental stewardship.
NFA Acting Executive Director, Stuart Maniraguha, stressed the urgent need to safeguard Mpanga’s fragile ecosystem from encroachment driven by urban expansion and community dependence on forest resources.
“Mpanga CFR deserves special attention. To protect this forest, we must also empower the communities that live around it,” Maniraguha said. “When people have alternative sources of livelihood, they are less likely to depend on the forest for survival.”
He warned against “photo planting”—ceremonial tree planting done only for publicity—and called for “deliberate tree growing” focused on survival and long-term impact. He reaffirmed NFA’s commitment to the proposed partnership and praised the dedication of forest rangers working under difficult conditions.
Gro Foundation Executive Director, Laban Musinguzi, revealed that Mpanga has been chosen as a pilot site for the foundation’s large-scale afforestation campaign. The initiative aims to plant five million trees in 2025 and scale up to 250 million trees over the next 15 years across East Africa.
“We are ready to support the conservation efforts under NFA’s leadership and framework. Mpanga is just the beginning,” Musinguzi said.
IRCU representatives emphasized their ability to mobilize faith-based communities through a network of religious institutions that reach over 20 million Ugandans. They pledged to use values-based advocacy to promote environmental protection and behavioral change at the grassroots level.
The dialogue concluded with agreement to formalize the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Implementation will begin immediately, focusing on forest restoration, livelihood support for surrounding communities, distribution of high-value tree seedlings, and nationwide conservation education.
Established in 1932, Mpanga CFR spans 453 hectares and serves as a vital water catchment for eight surrounding villages. The reserve is home to diverse flora and fauna and is a key site for ecotourism and scientific research.
