Gulu district secures Shs 137 Million to Restore lost forest cover

By Ivan Tolit

Gulu District Local Government has secured UGX 137 million for the  restoration of lost forest cover in the district to help mitigate the changing climate.

Opiyo Christopher Ateker, the Gulu District LCV Chairperson, has confirmed the development saying they have received the funds from the Japanese government.

He said the money will be distributed to the 11 sub counties with each getting UGX 12.5 million to generate over 250,000 different varieties of trees for planting in the first rainy season.

Opiyo said the support comes at a time when the district is struggling with lack of funds to restore lost vegetation cover to help mitigate the changing climate.

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, Gulu district lost over 38,700 hectares of tree cover between 2010 and 2021, representing a 6.2 % loss of the tree cover during this period.

Meanwhile, research by the Centre for African Studies says at least 80,000 hectares of forests are cleared annually for charcoal and timber, up from 50,000 in 2004 in Acholi Sub Region.

In Acholi sub-region, for example in Gulu and Amuru District, half of the forests are cleared to make 5,000 bags of charcoal daily.

In the past 25 years Uganda has lost 63 percent of its forest cover due to tree-cutting for firewood, timber and charcoal, as well as the growth of farms and towns, according to the National Forest Authority.