National Parks
Uganda has 10 national parks, some of which are included in transboundary protected areas. Conservation policies based on cooperation with local communities have halted the decline of mountain gorilla populations.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park : located in the west of the country, it includes the Rwenzori Mountains, home to the third highest peak in Africa and one of the sources of the Nile. The unique character of its glacier landscapes, combined with its exceptional biodiversity, have earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Semuliki National Park : located in the south-west of the country, it protects extremely varied ecosystems of tropical forest, savannahs and wetlands, associated with a great diversity of flora and fauna
Kibale National Park : located in the west of the country, it is renowned for its 13 species of monkeys. However, there are conflicts between wildlife and human activities: destruction of crops by animals on the one hand, and poaching and use of pesticides suspected of causing malformations and infertility in some primates on the other. The FoFauPopU (Forest, Fauna, Population in Uganda) project aims to reconcile the preservation of biodiversity and human activities by promoting shared and sustainable management of the territory.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: located in the southwest of the country, it is home to exceptional biodiversity, including endemic species. Home to great apes - including a large population of mountain gorillas - it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Queen Elizabeth National Park : located in the south-west of the country, in the western part of the Albertine Rift, it protects a wide variety of environments (wetlands, savannah, equatorial forests). It is renowned for its birdlife, but also for its populations of crocodiles, hippos and climbing lions.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park : located in the southwest of the country, it protects populations of mountain gorillas
Kidepo Valley National Park: located in the northeastern corner of the country, it is home to savannah plains and mountain ecosystems, and wetlands that attract many species.
Lake Mburo National Park : located in the southwest of the country, it is renowned for its mammal populations, including zebras and antelopes, which inhabit the savannah ecosystems. The wetlands attract many species of birds.
Mount Elgon National Park : located near the Kenyan border, it is home to an exceptional biodiversity of flora and fauna, including elephants, primates and birds.
Murchison Falls National Park : located in the north-west of the country, along the Victoria Nile, it is home to a great diversity of environments (savannah grasslands, forests, papyrus swamps, Murchinson Falls) and emblematic species: giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards, Nile crocodiles and birds. A controversial dam project could damage its ecosystems. In addition to this project, there is another one, sponsored by the Total group. This is the exploitation of an oil deposit under Lake Albert and one of the sources of the Nile, which could pose serious pollution risks and has already caused the forced displacement of local communities. NGOs have taken the matter to the French courts under the law on the duty of vigilance.
Preventing deforestation
Uganda has lost almost a third of its forest cover in 20 years. Forests are the lungs of Africa, reservoirs of biodiversity, but they are also resources for humans. The encroachment of agricultural land and the use of firewood in a country with a fast-growing population contribute to the significant deforestation of the territory. Added to this is "imported deforestation". These are imported goods whose production has led to the destruction of forests or the transformation of ecosystems. It should be noted that France has implemented a national strategy to fight against imported deforestation. In Uganda, deforestation contributes to the destruction of the habitats of many species. It accelerates soil erosion, contributes to the spread of diseases, and contributes to global warming by depriving the country of carbon sinks. An experiment in deforestation prevention was conducted by two NGOs. The idea was to combine poverty alleviation and environmental protection by involving local communities. The idea was to pay forest owners (more than two-thirds of the country's forests are privately owned), who are often poor, to conserve or replant trees. The feedback has been positive.
Facing climate change
Ongoing climate change is increasing the country's vulnerability. This is evidenced by the greater frequency and intensity of extreme events: mudslides, floods, deadly landslides. Longer and repeated droughts are contributing to a drop in yields, leading to inflation in agricultural products and further accentuating inequalities. Faced with this situation, the country is trying to reduce its dependence on biomass for energy and is working to develop renewable energies (solar, geothermal). To develop the adaptation of populations to climate change, water collection and distribution facilities (some of which are solar-powered) have been installed at livestock grazing areas and other strategic locations. In addition, veterinary prophylaxis (vaccinations) has been provided.
Hope carried by the youth
The faces of hope and change are those of the youth. Among them is Nakabuye Hilda Flavia. Very present on social networks, the young woman organizes the "Fridays for the future", and launches awareness actions. Another figure is Vanessa Nakate, also on strike for the climate, who founded the NGO Youth for Future Africa. Leah Namugerwa, for her part, initiates communication campaigns (on the theme of plastic, climate): "If adults are not ready to take the initiative, I and other children will show them the way", she suggests.
