Uganda's Conservation Efforts Hampered by Funding Shortfalls, Experts Warn

Uganda faces a significant challenge in safeguarding its natural heritage, with environmental researchers highlighting a critical shortfall in funding as a primary obstacle. Despite the existence of comprehensive policies and national development plans aimed at environmental protection, their effective implementation is severely constrained by a lack of financial resources, insufficient personnel, and inadequate equipment.

Senior lecturer at Makerere University, Joseph Obua, explained that the ministries and agencies tasked with environmental enforcement are often unable to carry out their mandates due to these resource limitations. “Their hands are tied,” he stated, emphasizing the need for better allocation of funds for enforcement activities.

The consequences of this underfunding are stark. Uganda has experienced a dramatic loss of forest cover, with an estimated 48% disappearing between 1990 and 2025, according to the Global Forest Assessment 2025. Similarly, wetlands, which constitute a significant portion of the country’s surface area, are under immense pressure, with large tracts converted for agriculture, settlement, and industrial development.

To combat these issues, Obua stressed that enforcement agencies require essential tools such as vehicles and field equipment, as well as allowances for monitoring, to effectively patrol protected areas and deter illegal activities. Without these, their ability to respond to degradation is severely limited.

The “Conservation Social Science Research for East Africa” initiative, which convened researchers from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, underscored the importance of integrating social science into conservation strategies. This includes understanding the role of local communities, who are often dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods. Researchers also noted that unclear boundaries of protected areas can confuse communities, leading to unintended degradation.

Experts like Betty Nakibuule and Liz Mwangi emphasized that conservation programs must actively involve communities living near protected areas. They argued that successful conservation hinges on collaboration and ensuring that local populations are at the heart of planning and implementation, rather than having interventions imposed upon them.