KAMPALA, April 23, 2026 — Uganda’s forests are demonstrating that climate finance can work when backed by strong national systems and sustained political commitment, the Ministry of Water and Environment has said.
In a recent policy statement, the ministry notes that global debate on tropical forests has long focused on loss, often overlooking how countries are responding and the progress being made to reverse the trend.
Uganda’s forest cover currently stands at an estimated 2.4–2.7 million hectares, equivalent to about 12–13 per cent of the country’s land area, down from roughly 24 per cent [about 4.9 million hectares] in 1990. The long-term decline has largely been driven by agricultural expansion, charcoal production and biomass extraction.
However, officials said the narrative is shifting as Uganda moves from fragmented, project-based interventions to a coordinated national approach centred on policy reform, monitoring and accountability.
Since 2022, the country has sustained and protected approximately 2.5 million hectares of forest and other natural landscapes through a nationwide, jurisdictional approach led by the Ministry of Water and Environment. The effort aligns with Uganda’s National REDD+ Strategy and its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
“The direction of travel matters,” the ministry said, pointing to improved systems for tracking forest cover and emissions. Uganda’s National Forest Monitoring System combines forest inventories, biomass assessments and satellite data to measure land-use change, with results independently verified and publicly reported in line with international standards.
The system, initially developed with support from the UN-REDD Programme, has been strengthened in recent years to meet growing expectations on transparency and integrity in climate reporting.
Government interventions have also targeted the underlying drivers of deforestation. Enforcement measures have been complemented by demand-side initiatives such as alternative livelihood programmes and efforts to reduce dependence on charcoal and fuelwood. In 2023, a presidential executive order sought to curb environmental damage linked to the charcoal trade, while climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry and land-use planning initiatives have been expanded.
Despite these efforts, Uganda continues to face significant challenges. Satellite-based data from Global Forest Watch indicates that the country still loses tens of thousands of hectares of natural forest annually, with about 27,000 hectares lost in 2024 alone. Population growth, urbanisation and rising energy demand remain key pressures.
The ministry emphasised that climate outcomes should be assessed based on long-term trends rather than single-year snapshots, arguing that Uganda has made measurable progress in building the systems needed to manage forest resources effectively.
It also called for greater international support through emerging mechanisms such as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility [TFFF], which aims to provide long-term, performance-based finance to countries that maintain forest cover.
According to the ministry, Uganda is well positioned to benefit from such initiatives, having invested in forest governance, monitoring and safeguards over the past decade. Eligibility for TFFF is expected to depend on verifiable forest outcomes, declining deforestation trends and credible national systems.
“Forest finance only works where there is trust,” the ministry said, highlighting safeguards on land tenure, public participation, grievance mechanisms and anti-corruption measures. Revenues from forest-based climate finance would be reinvested into conservation, enforcement and community livelihoods to ensure sustainability.
The ministry said Uganda’s experience demonstrates that large-scale forest conservation is achievable through a combination of governance, data and political will, noting that forests play a critical role in water regulation, biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods.
“If the world is serious about building a credible next generation of forest finance, it must recognise countries that are putting durable systems in place,” the statement said. “Uganda’s progress does not claim perfection, but it does demonstrate readiness.”
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