Protecting Our Forests for a Healthier Future and a Safe Environment
World Environment Day is observed every year on the fifth of June to remind us that the health of the planet shapes the health of our communities, farms, and families. In 2026 the global focus is on climate action, and for Uganda this is a chance to look closely at one of our greatest natural assets: our forests. Uganda’s forests have long supported livelihoods, regulated rainfall, protected soils, and provided clean water for rivers like the Nile and Lake Victoria’s catchment areas. From Mabira , Budongo to the Rwenzori foothills and the Albertine Rift, these forests are a home to unique wildlife and plant species found nowhere else. They also act as natural carbon stores, helping to slow the effects of climate change that are already being felt through shifting rains, longer dry spells, and stronger storms across the country. Yet forest cover in Uganda has been under pressure from charcoal burning, agricultural expansion, and illegal logging. When forests disappear, ...