Jinja District local government officials and leaders in Butagaya Sub-county have pledged their support for a Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) campaign to reopen and demarcate the boundaries of the Nile Bank Central Forest Reserve. This exercise is aimed at curbing encroachment, restoring degraded ecosystems, and protecting the River Nile’s fragile buffer zones.
The exercise is part of the Kalagala and Itanda Falls Conservation and Protection Project, which seeks to strengthen the protection of forest reserves bordering the River Nile and promote sustainable management of the riverine environment.
The district officials made the commitment during a consultative meeting with MWE officials held at the district headquarters in Jinja City, yesterday.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr. Ahmed Katerega pledged the support of the district’s political leadership, saying local authorities would mobilise communities to participate in the forest boundary demarcation exercise.
“The district embraces the project, and promised to will always mobilise our communities to support the demarcation exercise,” Katerega said, adding that district leaders would work closely with Ministry officials throughout the implementation process in Butagaya Sub-county. The demarcation and restoration activities are being spearheaded by the Ministry’s Department of Environment Sector Support Services (DESS).
The District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Mr Andrew Kanywani, also expressed support for the initiative, noting that persistent sand mining along the River Nile and the shores of Lake Victoria was a growing environmental concern.
He warned that unregulated extractive activities can accelerate environmental degradation, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and greater community participation in protecting natural resources.
Representing the district’s technical leadership, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Mr Malunda Hussein called on district technical officers to work closely with the Ministry throughout the demarcation exercise. The consultative meeting was attended by other district officials including District Women’s Council, the District Forestry Office and the District Land Board, as well as officials from Buwenge Town Council.
Protecting Forest Reserves and River Nile Buffer Zones
The head of the Ministry delegation, Mr William Mawenu, said the success of the demarcation exercise depended on effective collaboration between district political leaders, technical officers, local councils and communities.
He explained that reopening the boundaries of forest reserves bordering the River Nile was a key component of the Kalagala and Itanda Falls Conservation and Protection Project. “These reserves are very important because they form part of the broader River Nile ecosystem, and any unregulated activities cause siltation of the river,” Mawenu said.
Forest reserves and riverbank buffer zones play a critical role in protecting water quality, stabilizing riverbanks, reducing soil erosion and trapping sediment before it enters the river. They also provide habitats for wildlife, support biodiversity and help maintain the ecological balance of the River Nile.
Clear demarcation of forest boundaries is therefore an essential step towards preventing illegal occupation, strengthening forest management and ensuring that activities within and around the reserves comply with environmental laws.
The protection of the River Nile’s buffer zones is also vital for safeguarding water resources, sustaining livelihoods and preserving the river’s ecological integrity for present and future generations by the planting of tree seedlings, including bamboo, Maesopsis eminii (Musizi) and Milicia excelsa (mvule), among other species, to restore degraded areas along the river.
He encouraged communities to participate in tree growing, alternative livelihood support, to reduce pressure on forest resources. The approach is intended to promote community ownership of conservation efforts while providing residents with sustainable economic opportunities.
Mawenu further revealed that the Ministry had established a Grievance Redress Mechanism committee comprising of parish chiefs, local and district leaders to address concerns raised by community members during the project implementation. An Environment and Social Safeguards Committee to be set to the management of environmental and social risks associated with project activities.
These mechanisms are expected to strengthen transparency, accountability and community participation, while providing an avenue for resolving disputes that may arise during boundary reopening and demarcation.
Effective stakeholder collaboration is particularly important in forest reserve protection because conservation efforts require the combined commitment of government institutions, local leaders, security agencies and the communities living near protected areas.
Senior Forest Officer Mr Michael Kusuro emphasised the importance of clearly marking the boundaries of the forest reserve to prevent encroachment, deforestation and other activities contributing to environmental degradation.
According to the Ministry’s surveyor, Mr Derrick Egunyu, the exercise will cover 606 hectares of land within the Nile Bank area, including a 12-kilometre cut-line along the River Nile.
The process will involve stakeholders doing reconnaissance, opening, marking of the forest boundary with visible pillars. The involvement of local communities in these activities is expected to promote ownership of the demarcated boundaries and strengthen collective responsibility for protecting the reserve.
Following the consultative meeting with district officials, the Ministry delegation proceeded to Butagaya Sub-county offices, where it met local council leaders who pledged to mobilise residents to participate in the boundary reopening and demarcation exercise. The meeting was attended by Sub-county Chairperson Mr Waiswa Tanansi and Sub-county Chief Mr Kakaire Emmanuel, alongside other local leaders, representatives and other community members.
The Ministry team and local council leaders are engaging communities across the villages of Butagaya Sub-county to raise awareness about the reopening of the forest boundaries and the importance of protecting the reserve.
As the exercise progresses, sustained cooperation between government institutions and local communities will be crucial to ensuring that the demarcated boundaries are respected and that restored areas remain protected.
Ultimately, safeguarding the Nile Bank Central Forest Reserve and the River Nile’s buffer zones will require more than marking boundaries. It will depend on continued enforcement, community participation, restoration of degraded ecosystems and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on forests and riverbanks.
Through coordinated action, stakeholders can help preserve the River Nile’s ecological integrity, protect vital water resources and secure the environmental and economic benefits of the river for future generations.