Natural heritage

Uganda, known as the Pearl of Africa, is home to stunning natural wonders like the snowcapped peaks of Rwenzori and the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi, home to over 200 bird species. Lake Nnalubale, meaning "mother of the guardian gods," and the source of the River Nile, the longest river on Earth, add to its natural beauty. For centuries, Uganda's environment has been revered by its 56 indigenous communities, including the Bantu, Nilotes, and Hamites. These communities historically lived in harmony with nature, practicing sustainable methods like shift cultivation.  However, behind the scenic nature hides a history of environmental exploitation and a present-day struggle to combat pressing environmental challenges. 

Historical Context 

Before colonization, most Africans had their environmental beliefs deeply rooted in various ecological beliefs. In the Ugandan territory, the Bakiga people, had a strong connection to their natural surroundings. Their traditional beliefs emphasized the interconnectedness of humans and nature, by viewing the environment as a source of life and sustenance. Practices such as communal land stewardship and reverence for sacred sites reflect their deep respect for the environment. The Iteso indigenous people had traditional environmental beliefs rooted in their agricultural lifestyle. They held ceremonies and rituals to appease the spirits of the land to ensure a bountiful harvest and customs related to sustainable farming practices, such as crop rotation and soil conservation techniques passed down through generations. Whereas the Acholi people held environmental beliefs intertwined with their spiritual practices and worldview. They believed in ancestral spirits that inhabit natural elements like trees, rivers, and mountains. As a result, indigenous people preserved these natural features and avoided actions that would disturb the spirits or disrupt the balance of the environment. 

In the 1860s, Uganda fell victim to colonization, genocide, and exploitation by British missionaries and explorers. This period marked the beginning of large-scale deforestation and habitat loss, driven by the colonial minority's pursuit of timber resources and agricultural plantations. The once-expansive grasslands were drained for agriculture, leading to irreversible habitat loss and biodiversity decline. 

Post-Independence Challenges

Despite gaining independence in 1962, Uganda faced a myriad of political, economic, and environmental challenges. The rush for industrialization and natural resources exerted immense pressure on the environment, exacerbating issues such as deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.

Current Environmental Issues

Today, Uganda grapples with a host of pressing environmental challenges, including heatwaves, flooding, deforestation, plastic pollution, and water pollution. These issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities, particularly women and girls from lower socio-economic backgrounds, highlighting the urgent need for collective action and community empowerment.

Environmental Visionaries of Uganda

In the face of adversity, visionary leaders like Vanessa Nakate, Davis Reuben Sekamwa, and Leah Namugerwa have emerged as champions of environmental justice in Uganda. From raising awareness about climate change to promoting energy access and combating plastic pollution, these activists are paving the way for a more sustainable future. 

Where are the trees disappearing to? 

Deforestation has sparked a cascade of social, economic, and environmental repercussions in Uganda. This includes the displacement of communities, exacerbation of prolonged droughts, and the erratic pattern of rainfall culminating in devastating floods (International Monetary Fund, 2022). The country's vital forests, swamps, and water bodies are under severe threat from pollution, rampant human encroachment, and overexploitation. Shockingly, Uganda's forest cover plummeted from 24% of its total land area in 1990 to a mere 9% in 2015, resulting in a loss of approximately 3 million hectares. Similarly, wetland cover dwindled from 15.5% in 1994 to 8.9% in 2020 (Ministry of Water and Environment, 2020).

The question arises: where are the trees disappearing to? The reality is that the absence of alternative energy resources forces Ugandans to heavily rely on firewood from trees for cooking. Furthermore, trees are extensively exploited for commercial purposes, particularly in the production of charcoal, which is exported to neighboring countries such as South Sudan and Rwanda. This underscores the urgent need for renewable energy alternatives, not only to enhance the livelihoods of Ugandans but also to address the pressing issue of air pollution. 

Moreover, the adverse impacts of deforestation extend beyond human populations to wildlife. In an interview regarding Uganda's participation in COP 26, John Bosco Okullu, a resident of Koch Goma sub-county in Nwoya district, shared the dire consequences of deforestation in his community. According to Okullu, an alarming 20,000 acres of previously forested land have been cleared, notably affecting the Nwoya district, home to the Murchison National Game Park. Once a sanctuary where wild animals freely roamed, the park has seen a significant decline in its wildlife population as a result of deforestation. With their natural habitats disappearing, animals, predominantly elephants, venture into residential areas, causing havoc by destroying crops, homes, and even posing a threat to human lives. Okullu emphasized the crucial role of trees in providing shelter for wildlife and the repercussions of their disappearance, including the escalation of human-wildlife conflicts. Just recently, two individuals fell victim to an elephant rampage in their trading center, highlighting the perilous consequences of deforestation. This serves as a stark reminder of the intricate interdependence between ecosystems and the devastating impact of disrupting this delicate balance. 

The Waste Management Dilemma

Plastic pollution in Uganda is a visual, sanitary, and environmental issue all across the country. A lack of efficient waste management systems, lack of waste segregation, and inconsistent waste governance have led to waste being dumped in informal locations across towns. Oftentimes, the waste ends up in landfills. For Instance, in Kampala, there is Kiteezi Landfill which receives 1,500 tons of waste every day, which is equivalent to The weight of around 750 cars (assuming an average car weight of 2 tons). Most times, the waste is burned, and this releases dangerous fumes that can cause respiratory issues and cancer. The solid waste (mostly plastic) that is haphazardly dumped across the city pollutes waterways with microplastic particles contaminating food chains. This leads to large numbers of animals dying each year from eating non-biodegradable items. Additionally untreated waste provides a breeding ground for the Anopheles mosquito which carries malaria, therefore risking people's health. Malaria is a significant health issue in Uganda, with the country having one of the highest malaria burdens globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda accounted for about 5% of all malaria cases worldwide in 2019. It is crucial to address waste management, especially in areas where malaria is prevalent. There needs to be more efforts to improve sanitation, waste disposal, and the environment, and health education in the community can help mitigate this issue. 

Transboundary Environmental Issues 

Some environmental issues transcend the confines of national borders. These are called transboundary environmental issues, that export their adversary far and internationally. Such as water pollution in Lake Victoria, locally known as Lake Nnalubale before colonial times, is threatened by toxic industrial pollutants such as mercury from mining activity and the proliferation of invasive species such as water hyacinth. Lake Victoria supplies water to millions in neighboring Kenya and Tanzania and supports fishing communities in all three countries yet it is suffering from pollution due to algal blooms, phosphates, nitrates, heavy metals, and fecal matter all pile into the lake daily . The social implications of this are expansive some farmers cannot predict the growing seasons, and this has resulted in using herbicides to grow their plants instead. An untrained individual, this can lead to ground water run off and into the lake. Transboundary issues like water pollution demand collective action. 

Thank you for getting to the end of this article, if you would like to learn more about local organizations championing environmental progress and are presently contributing to changes in Uganda. Check the following