The campaign at Manwa Local Forest Reserve aims to restore degraded land, protect newly planted trees and mobilise communities to conserve forests that support agriculture, water resources and biodiversity.
The Ministry of Water and Environment and Stanbic Bank Uganda have launched a forest restoration campaign at Manwa Local Forest Reserve in Masaka City, targeting degraded sections of the forest and urging communities to protect the remaining ecosystem.
The campaign seeks to restore parts of the 144-hectare reserve in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division through tree planting and community engagement, with officials warning that newly planted trees will not survive without sustained local protection.
Saul Ndyabandiho, a forestry expert at the Ministry of Water and Environment, urged residents to take responsibility for conserving forests, saying communities are among the main beneficiaries of the environmental services they provide.
He called on people living near Manwa Forest Reserve to protect newly planted trees, prevent livestock from damaging them and report illegal tree cutting.
Residents said the forest supports their livelihoods by helping to sustain agricultural activities and providing access to traditional medicinal plants.
One resident said communities around Manwa appeared to have experienced less severe effects from drought than some other areas, attributing this partly to the forest and its contribution to local environmental conditions.
“When drought affects the country, we have not experienced the same situation here in Manwa, and our crops have continued to do well because of this forest. It also helps us access traditional medicinal plants,” the resident said.
However, local leaders estimate that about 30 hectares of the reserve’s 144 hectares have been destroyed, raising concerns about the long-term health of the ecosystem.
Valeriano Kiberu, the Manwa village chairperson, highlighted the forest’s importance to surrounding communities and called for interventions to protect the remaining vegetation.
The restoration campaign brings together the ministry and Stanbic Bank Uganda, whose environmental conservation activities form part of its 35th-anniversary programme in the country.
According to information presented at the launch, more than 20,000 trees have been planted as part of efforts to restore the degraded reserve. Stanbic Bank’s broader programme targets the planting of 700,000 trees.
Diana Ondoga, the bank’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, said the initiative aims to support the restoration of degraded forest areas through tree planting and cooperation with local communities.
She said forest conservation requires sustained participation from residents, government agencies, environmental experts and other stakeholders.
“Protecting forests is not the responsibility of one person or institution. It requires collective action from communities, environmental authorities and all other stakeholders,” Ondoga said.
She urged residents to avoid destructive practices, including illegal tree cutting, that threaten forest survival.
Ismaeil Mukiibi, manager of Stanbic Bank’s Masaka branch, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to working with local communities and other stakeholders to sustain the restoration campaign. He encouraged residents to help protect the trees planted under the programme.
The launch also drew calls from local leaders for stronger enforcement against forest destruction.
John Kakande, the Masaka District chairperson, urged the government to take action against people responsible for destroying forests, regardless of their positions or influence.
He expressed concern that some individuals allegedly misuse their positions to engage in activities that undermine environmental conservation and called for stronger enforcement of existing protections.
Hajji Badru Kagga Tomusaange, chairperson of the Buddu regional committee responsible for environmental conservation, welcomed the initiative, saying interventions of this kind can strengthen environmental awareness and encourage communities to safeguard natural resources.
Ndyabandiho reiterated that the campaign’s success would depend on sustained community participation, warning that newly planted trees could be lost unless residents protect them from livestock, illegal cutting and other threats.
The partners are counting on residents and local leaders to help maintain the restored areas and safeguard Manwa Forest Reserve for future generations.