Publications & Documents

The Echuya Forest Reserve was constituted in 1939 and was first gazetted and declared as undemarcated crown forest of 4,144 ha in 1941. It was demarcated in 1944 and re-gazetted as a Central Forest Reserve by Legal Notice No. 41 of 1948 with an area of 3,403 Ha. Management is vested in the Ministry of Water and Environment (ex NFA) under Section 54(i) of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003, while Section 33(1) stipulates rights and privileges of communities.

MGNP is located in the extreme south-western corner of Uganda between latitude -1.33 to -1.38 South and longitude 29.6o to 29.7o East. The area was originally established as a Forest Reserve. A Sanctuary to protect gorillas was established by Legal Notice 21 of 1930, the area being upgraded to Game Reserve Status by Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 216 of 1964 (substituted by SI No. 136 of 1965). The National Park was established by SI No. 27 of 1991, amended by SI No. 3 of 1992. At 33.7 km2, MGNP is Uganda’s smallest national park. By the late 1980s the area was severely encroached. After the area was upgraded to a National Park in 1991 the encroaching families were relocated.

The BINP was originally established as the Bwindi (Impenetrable) Forest Reserve in 1932. Later it was established as a Gorilla Sanctuary by General Notice No. 584 of 1961 and amended by Legal Notice No. 53 of 1962, Legal Notice No. 567 of 1962 and Statutory Instrument No. 10 of 1964 (Protected Area System Plan for Uganda Vol. 4, 1999). The Impenetrable Forest came under National Park status by resolution of the National Resistance Council of 13th August 1991 and became known as BINP under Statutory Instrument Supplement No.3 of 1992.

The Government of Uganda (GoU) is implementing the “Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD or Project) Project”. The project is financed by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank (with financing of US$148.2 million equivalent). The implementation of the project is led by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and the National Forestry Authority (NFA). As of August 31, 2025, the NFA has been mainstreamed into MWE. Therefore, throughout this document, all subsequent references to this entity will be noted as MWE/ex-NFA to accurately reflect this organizational change. The project was approved in April 2020, became effective in August 2021, and closes on June 30, 2026.

Lower Simu Micro-catchment covers an approximate total area of 55.16 km2 in Bulambuli district and partly Sironko district. The Micro-catchment consists of the following administrative units: Bukhalu, Bukyabo, Bulaago, Bulegeni, Bulegeni T/C, Buluganya, Bumasobo, Butandiga, Kamu, Lusha, Muyembe, Simu and Sisiyi.

Lower Muyembe Micro-catchment covers an approximate total area of 49.55 km2 in both Bulambuli and Kapchorwa districts. The Micro-catchment consists of the following administrative units: Amukol Sub-county, Buginyanya Sub-county, Bulambuli T/C, Bulegeni Sub-county, Bulegeni T/C, Bumugibole Sub-county, Chepteret Sub-county, Kamu Sub-county, Kapsinda Sub-county, Kaserem Sub-county, Kawowo Sub-county, Masiira Sub-county, Muyembe Sub-county, Nabongo Sub-county, Sipi Sub-county and Sisiyi Sub-county.

Lower Sironko Micro-catchment covers an approximate total area of 93.67 km2 in Sironko district. The Micro-catchment consists of the following administrative units: Budadiri T/C, Buhugu Sub-county, Bukhulo Sub-county, Bukiise Sub-county, Bukiyi Sub-county, Buteza Sub-county, Buwalasi Sub-county, Buwasi Sub-county, Buyobo Sub-county, Nalusasa Sub-county and Sironko T/C .

Abstracts for Applied Research in Water, Environment and Climate Change: Policy, Practice and Science. The 9th Uganda Water and Environment Week was held on Monday 23rd March to Friday 27th March 2026, as an annual event of Ministry of Water and Environment under auspices of the Water Resources Institute(WRI). A call for abstracts was published on December 1st, 2025 and ended on February 1st 2026. The call attracted interested researchers, Practitioners and policy makers to share their research findings and practical work, findings based on experiences in line with the theme and sub-themes of UWEWK 2026.

The WATERFRONT NEWSLETTER Issue III

THE WATERFRONTNEWSLETTER Monday, March 23rd, 2026 Issue II

Following Uganda’s participation in the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held from 10th to 22nd November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, the Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Climate Change Department, is convening the Post-COP30 National Dialogue. The Dialogue will take place during the Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) as part of broader national discussions on environmental sustainability and climate action. It is scheduled for Tuesday, 24th March 2026, at the Ministry of Water and Environment Auditorium, starting at 11:30 AM. This high-level Dialogue forms part of the Climate Change Day under UWEWK, which will take place in a 3 segment format. The first segment will feature the High-level session on the key outcomes of COP30, which will inform Uganda’s priorities and positioning in preparation for the 64th Sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB64). All particpants are invited to participate in the High-level session. This will be followed by the second segment featuring 2 side events, organized by the Climate Change Department, that will run concurrently. The two side events are as follows: Update on the NDC Launch of the Uganda Locally Led Adaptation Community of Practice Strengthening Adaptation Planning (SAP) Side Event Participants are at liberty to attend any of these sessions

Following Uganda’s participation in the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held from 10th to 22nd November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, the Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Climate Change Department, is convening the Post-COP30 National Dialogue. The Dialogue will take place during the Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) as part of broader national discussions on environmental sustainability and climate action. It is scheduled for Tuesday, 24th March 2026, at the Ministry of Water and Environment Auditorium, starting at 11:30 AM. This high-level Dialogue forms part of the Climate Change Day under UWEWK, which will take place in a 3 segment format. The first segment will feature the High-level session on the key outcomes of COP30, which will inform Uganda’s priorities and positioning in preparation for the 64th Sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB64). All particpants are invited to participate in the High-level session. This will be followed by the second segment featuring 2 side events, organized by the Climate Change Department, that will run concurrently. The two side events are as follows: Update on the NDC Launch of the Uganda Locally Led Adaptation Community of Practice Strengthening Adaptation Planning (SAP) Side Event Participants are at liberty to attend any of these sessions

THE WATERFRONT NEWSLETTER Monday, March 23, 2026 Issue I

UGANDA’S FORESTS ARE PROVING THAT CLIMATE FINANCE CAN WORK, IF THE WORLD IS PAYING ATTENTION Loss has dominated conversations about tropical forests for many years. Declining tree cover, rising emissions, and the pressure on governments struggling to balance development with conservation have shaped the narrative. Uganda knows these challenges well. But the global discussion often omits how countries are responding and the progress being made.

The 9th Uganda Water and Environment Week will be held from Monday 23rd March to Friday 27th March The National Organizing Committee of The Uganda Water and Environment Week 2026 therefore calls for abstracts from interested researchers, practitioners and policy makers to share their research and practical work, findings and experiences in line with the theme and sub themes of the week.

Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) is a weeklong event that is organized annually by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) through the Water Resources Institute (WRI). The event has evolved and grown to become the flagship program for advocacy, influencing, information sharing, and learning within the water and environment spectrum.

Exhibitor Registration Form_UWEWK2026

Guide for the field visit UWEWK 2026

Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) is a week long annual event that is organized by Ministry of Water and Environment through Water Resources nstitute. It provides interface between sector stakeholders for knowledge exchange, dialogue, and learning for improvement of Uganda’s water and environment resources.