IUCN and Uganda renew conservation partnership with new MoU

This agreement comes at a critical time, as Uganda faces increasing pressure on its fragile ecosystems. The urgency is clear: the country is losing an estimated 122,000 hectares of forest cover annually, according to the National State of the Environment Report 2021, driven largely by reliance on wood and charcoal. Our expanded collaboration with the Ministry will directly address these pressing challenges.

"This new MoU expands our collaboration to cover the full scope of the Ministry’s mandate,” stated Mr. Luther Bois Anukur, IUCN’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “It is a critical milestone in Uganda’s environmental governance efforts.” Indeed, IUCN's connection with East Africa began right here in Uganda, with our first regional presence established in 1991.

Under this renewed partnership, IUCN will provide essential technical support and resources to strengthen Uganda's conservation and restoration targets. Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, highlighted the agreement’s crucial role in supporting Uganda’s ambitious 10-year Environmental Restoration Plan, approved in 2022. Dr. Okidi emphasized that the MoU "aims to foster cooperation between the Ministry and IUCN, to enhance the management, conservation, and sustainable use of Uganda’s water resources, wetlands, forest catchments, and other vital natural assets.”

Our shared focus will include forest restoration, catchment protection, and biodiversity conservation. We will also work together on critical issues like cross-border water governance and climate resilience, particularly in drought-prone areas, ensuring a holistic approach to environmental management.

This MoU replaces a series of previous, more fragmented agreements with individual directorates within the Ministry. It provides a more integrated and effective framework to coordinate programs, develop robust policies, and foster stronger engagement with civil society and the private sector.

IUCN has a strong track record of supporting conservation in Uganda. Our past efforts include successful wetland rehabilitation in the east and southwest, vital catchment protection around Mount Elgon, and impactful reforestation drives in the Albertine Rift. We have also been instrumental in shaping key policy documents, such as Uganda’s National Forest and Wetlands Policies.

Looking ahead, this partnership is poised to drive innovation in ecosystem management, promote sustainable conservation financing, and strengthen community-led development. We are committed to helping the Ministry achieve its goals more effectively and, in doing so, positioning Uganda as a regional leader in environmental governance.

We are confident that this renewed collaboration will lead to significant, tangible improvements in the health and resilience of Uganda’s natural environment, benefiting both people and nature for generations to come.