Water Ministry, Jinja Authorities Plan to Reopen Namavundu Forest Boundaries

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1338 EAT on Wednesday 2 September 2026

The Ministry of Water and Environment has agreed on a modus operandi with Jinja District officials to pave the way for the reopening and restoration of boundaries for the 704-hectare Namavundu Central Forest Reserve, as part of efforts to curb deforestation and environmental degradation.

The high-level stakeholder engagement, held at the Jinja District headquarters on August 18, is part of a broader five-year conservation initiative aimed at protecting the Kalagala and Itanda Falls Conservation Area.

The project is being jointly implemented by the Department of Environmental Management and Protection and the Department of Forestry Management, with full funding from the government. It covers key ecosystems across Kayunga, Kamuli, Buikwe and Jinja districts, as well as Jinja City.

The key ecosystems covered by the initiative include riverbanks and the Namavundu, Itanda and Kalagala Falls Central Forest Reserves.

The ministry’s delegation was received by Jinja District LC-V Chairperson Moses Batwala, his deputy Joseph Ikola, Chief Administrative Officer Emmanuel Wamburu and his deputy, Hussein Malunda.

Speaking during the meeting, Leo Twinomuhangi, a team leader at the ministry, emphasised that the boundary exercise is a legal and consultative process and is not intended to serve as an eviction exercise.

Wamburu confirmed that technical staff had been directed to strictly prevent the illegal titling of land within protected areas.

“Land does not expand, yet our population grows daily, creating immense pressure,” he noted. “We must hold ourselves accountable and set high standards for our communities.”

Meanwhile, Malunda welcomed the proposed livelihood support packages, noting that community buy-in is crucial to achieving long-term conservation goals.

While acknowledging that some of the encroachers are influential individuals, Malunda expressed confidence that strengthened inter-agency cooperation would ensure effective enforcement of the law.

The reopening of the forest boundaries directly supports presidential directives to safeguard Uganda’s forests, wetlands and riverbanks.

Twinomuhangi warned that unchecked environmental degradation has contributed to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, including landslides and flooding across the region.

He identified illegal land titling in protected areas, including forest reserves, lakeshores and islands along the River Nile, as a major challenge driven by impunity.

To address the problem, the ministry is rolling out comprehensive management plans for forests, wetlands and fisheries, alongside environmental audits and stricter licensing frameworks.

-Observer

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