KAMUKOLE – The restoration of the Kagombe Central Forest Reserve is transforming one of Uganda’s most degraded landscapes into a recovering ecological asset. This progress was highlighted during the 2026 IFPA-CD Technical Field Mission, where officials assessed restoration activities and community engagement supported by the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project.
A Landscape in Recovery
In 2017, Kagombe faced an ecological crisis, with nearly 80% of its area impacted by encroachment. Once a vital watershed for the Muzizi River and Lake Albert, the reserve had lost the majority of its natural vegetation to unsustainable human activity.
Today, that trend is reversing. The field mission—led by National Project Coordinator Margaret Athieno Mwebesa and World Bank Task Team Leader Anita Takura—visited active restoration sites to witness the return of indigenous biodiversity.
"Restoration efforts are now being implemented in partnership with local residents," noted Mwebesa. "Communities are no longer onlookers; they are active participants in planting, maintaining, and protecting the forest."
Scaling Conservation Across the Western Landscape
The IFPA-CD Project’s footprint extends beyond Kagombe, implementing diverse interventions across several key reserves:
Enrichment Planting Achievements
Active Forest Restoration
Large-scale active restoration interventions have been implemented in the following reserves:
Enrichment Planting and Trail Maintenance
Forest management activities have also included enrichment planting and maintenance of conservation trails:
Development of Conservation Trails
To support forest monitoring, eco-tourism, and protected area management, new conservation trails have been developed:
Livelihoods: Turning Poachers into Protectors
The project’s success hinges on Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) groups, which align ecological goals with economic incentives. By providing sustainable alternatives to charcoal burning and timber harvesting, the project is breaking the cycle of poverty-driven deforestation.
- Beekeeping: Community groups have received 500 beehives, establishing honey production as a primary income source.
- Financial Inclusion: CFM members have formed a SACCO to encourage collective savings and provide capital for forest-friendly enterprises.
Ayesimbwa Wilber, a member of the Bwikara CFM Group, noted a profound shift in local mindset: "Many who once relied on exploiting the forest for survival are now its primary protectors."
Signs of Life
Gazetted in 1932, the 17,751-hectare Kagombe reserve is crucial for the region's hydrological stability. As the ecosystem heals, the wildlife is responding; conservation staff and locals have recently reported the return of chimpanzees to the area—a hallmark indicator of a healthy, recovering forest.