Government Launches Five-Year Drive to Restore Kalagala-Itanda Ecosystem

What the report says

Uganda has begun a five-year conservation programme worth Shs184 billion to restore parts of the Kalagala-Itanda Special Conservation Area along the River Nile, according to Nile Post. The plan runs from the 2025/26 to 2030/31 financial years and is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment under Phase II of the Kalagala Sustainable Management Plan.

The project is intended to protect degraded forests, aquatic habitats and riverbank ecosystems while also helping communities affected by environmental restrictions in the area. Ministry officials cited by Nile Post said the work will cover about 14,455 hectares of terrestrial ecosystems and 1,256 hectares of aquatic ecosystems, with livelihood restoration support planned for roughly 1,712 people and 20 institutions.

A key target is the restoration of 5,714 hectares of degraded forest reserve and the rehabilitation of 1,256 hectares of degraded fisheries and aquatic habitats. Officials also want to strengthen protection in the 100-metre buffer zone around the conservation area. The article says some residents have resisted demarcation efforts because of concerns about limits on traditional activities, while local authorities have warned that interference or encroachment could lead to arrest and prosecution.

Nile Post reported that the success of the initiative will depend on balancing enforcement with community engagement and on offering practical livelihood alternatives so conservation measures are seen as sustainable rather than punitive.