Programme activities to-date

Since its formation in 2002, the UFWG has accomplished the following:

a) Recruitment of members and servicing membership, including information sharing.

b) Established Secretariat and Steering Committee. Has convened Steering Committee meetings.

c) Generating and disseminating knowledge and information. Has carried out Action research, policy analysis.

d) Convened or facilitated dialogue platforms involving members and stakeholders on forestry related issues.

e) Participated in national level policy processes (REDD+, Environment and Natural Resources Sector Working Group (ENR-SWG)) and collaborated with other national level advocacy activities (e.g., Mabira Crusade in 2007).

f) Resources mobilizations from within and outside the Country and provision of technical support to members (e.g., FAO Project).

g) Established formal collaboration with other networks within and outside the country (e.g., Kenya Forestry Working Group (KFWG), Tanzania Forestry Working Group (TFWG)), Africa Forestry Forum (AFF).

h) Established and nurtured UFWG credibility within the country among government, donors and CSO fraternity and East Africa region.

 The Secretariat is coordinated the implementation of the second Phase of the National Forestry Program with support from National Forestry Program (NFP) Facility. Implementation of the programme ensured increased prioritization and resource allocation to the District Forestry Services in addition to enhanced capacity of stakeholders (farmers, forest users) to develop economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound livelihood opportunities through forestry. Implementation was done by sub-contracted UFWG members who are directly supervised by the secretariat and the Multi-stakeholder steering Committee (MSSC).

Outputs of National Forestry Program (NFP) Facility programme in Uganda;

  • Enhanced capacity of stakeholders (farmers, forest users) to develop economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound livelihood opportunities through forestry
  • National and District political and technical leadership lobbied to increase resources allocated to DFS through district allocations and central government disbursements
  • Enhanced advocacy capacity of Private forest owners and farmers to engage technical and political leaders in forestry management issues
  • Information processing and dissemination mechanisms for the national forest programme improved among various key stakeholders
  • Case studies documentation and analysis of utilization of Forest Based Enterprises (FBEs) for conservation and livelihood undertaken
  • Sustainably managed economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound forest based enterprises
  • Enhanced capacity of Private forest owners to ensure application of sustainable forest management practices