National Parks
Uganda has 10 national parks, some of which are part of 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 mountain range, home to Africa's third highest peak and one of the sources of the Nile. Its unique glacier landscapes, combined with exceptional biodiversity, have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.
Semuliki National Park: located in the south-west of the country, it protects extremely varied ecosystems of tropical forest, savannah and wetlands, associated with a great diversity of flora and fauna.
Kibale National Park: located in the west of the country, this park is renowned for its 13 species of monkey. However, there are conflicts between wildlife and human activities: on the one hand, animals destroy crops; on the other, poaching and the use of pesticides are suspected of causing malformations and infertility in certain primates. The FoFauPopU Project (Forest, Fauna, Population in Uganda) aims to reconcile the preservation of biodiversity and human activities, by promoting shared, sustainable management of the area.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: located in the south-west 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 south-west of the country, this park protects populations of mountain gorillas.
Kidepo Valley National Park: located on the north-eastern edge of the country, it is home to savannah plains and mountain ecosystems, as well as wetlands that attract numerous species.
Lake Mburo National Park: located in the south-west of the country, it is renowned for its mammal populations, including zebras and antelopes, which populate the savannah ecosystems. The wetlands attract numerous bird species.
Mount Elgon National Park: located close to the Kenyan border, this park 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 wide variety of environments (savannah grasslands, forests, papyrus swamps, Murchison Falls) and emblematic species: giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards, Nile crocodiles and birds. A controversial dam project could damage these ecosystems. The Total Group is also planning a dam. This involves the development of an oil field under Lake Albert and one of the sources of the Nile, which could pose serious pollution risks, and has already led to the forced displacement of local communities. NGOs have taken the case to the French courts, under the French "duty of vigilance" law.
Preventing deforestation
In 20 years, Uganda has lost almost a third of its forest cover. Lungs of Africa, reservoirs of biodiversity, forests are also resources for humans. The encroachment of agricultural land and the use of firewood in a country with a fast-growing population are contributing to the country's significant deforestation. Added to this is "imported deforestation". These are imported goods whose production has led to the destruction of forests or the transformation of ecosystems. France has implemented a national strategy to combat imported deforestation. In Uganda, deforestation contributes to the destruction of the habitats of numerous species. It accelerates soil erosion, contributes to the spread of disease and contributes to global warming by depriving the country of carbon sinks. An experiment in deforestation prevention was carried out by two NGOs. The idea was to combine the fight against poverty with environmental protection, by involving local communities. The idea was to pay forest owners (over two-thirds of the country's forests are privately owned), who are often poor, to conserve or replant trees. 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.
The hope of youth
The faces of hope and change are those of youth. Among them is Nakabuye Hilda Flavia. Very present on social networks, the young woman organizes "Fridays for the future", and launches awareness campaigns. 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 (plastic, climate): "If adults aren't ready to take the initiative, I and other children will show them the way", she suggests.
