Forestry Governance in Mabira and Mpanga

ABSTRACT In Uganda, land use continues to change over time. Land use and forestry governance have continued to influence each other. There is increasing xiv public attention and debate about land tenure and forest degradation, privatization, and encroachment on land, and forest governance in Uganda. Poor governance is one of the main reasons for the decline of forest resources. This thesis is from a study that looked at land use and forestry governance in parts of central Uganda. The research aimed at examining the policy, legislative and institutional framework for land use and forestry governance in Uganda. According to the study there is a strong institutional and legal framework for forestry governance in Uganda. The Forestry Policy, 2001, provides for most of the requirements of good forest governance, but implementation still leaves a lot to be desired. The forestry policy is rooted in the Constitution of Uganda (1995) and the subsequent amendment in 2005. The legal framework provides a good basis for responsible forest management but the extent to which the policy is implemented and the laws enforced affects the responsible forest management spirit. The study noted that in spite of the good policies and laws, forest crime has continued to increase. The study also noted that there are a number of stakeholders and actors ranging from households, government institutions (both central and local government), civil society organizations, all engaging in diverse efforts to ensure that all Ugandans have access to land. The study also noted that efforts are being made to protect, restore, afforestate, or rehabilitate the degraded forests, but degradation persists. The actors have and stakeholders have individually or jointly undertaken forest management on privately owned, communally owned and government owned land. The study also noted that there exists some level of disparities in capabilities, degree of organization, knowledge and the manner in which these stakeholders are mobilized to persue common interests, The study recommended that the government works towards improving implementation of this framework in its quest for sustainable management of its forests. At organizational level, there is need to continue building the capacities of the institutions responsible for forestry and those which provide support services so that they are able to halt the decline of forest cover in Uganda, and translate the policies and plans into sustainable land use and forest management.