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Uganda’s Young Forest Champions Lead the Way in Forest Restoration and Conservation

18/07/2025

A capacity-building workshop dedicated to Uganda’s AIM4Forests Young Forest Champions was held in Kampala from 14–16 July 2025, bringing together ten youth leaders from across the country. Organized by FAO Uganda in collaboration with Youth Go Green, the Ministry of Water and Environment and the National Forestry Authority, the workshop served as a platform for youth engagement, knowledge exchange, and hands-on field exposure. Its goal was to inspire and equip the next generation of forest champions to take leadership for forests and environmental stewardship across Uganda.

During the opening session, Mr. Stuart Maniraguha, Executive Director of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), addressed the Young Forest Champions. “Forestry in Uganda dates back to 1898 and remains one of our most important sectors. With a national target to increase forest cover from 12.4% to 24% by 2040, this journey requires innovation, restoration, and the full involvement of youth. Out of 264 applicants from Uganda, you are the 10 selected and this moment marks the beginning of your journey from the boardroom to the forest.”

Mentorship Roundtables: Building Pathways in Forestry Careers

A key component of the workshop was a series of mentorship roundtables designed to guide the champions in shaping their restoration projects and personal development. Facilitated by experts from FAO Uganda, the World Food Forum Uganda Chapter, the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), and Youth Go Green Uganda, these sessions covered practical areas such as project design, forest monitoring and remote sensing applications, proposal writing, communication for advocacy, and building partnerships. Mentors encouraged the champions to stay grounded in their communities, think long term, and align their efforts with national restoration priorities.

Beyond technical guidance, the roundtables created space for honest conversation and motivation. Champions shared challenges they face in leading environmental action, from limited resources for gaining local support, and received practical strategies to overcome them. In one of the sessions, Mr. Bob Kazungu, from the Ministry of Water and Environment, offered a note of encouragement: “The ideas you are sharing here can be developed, taken further, and supported.”

From Ideas to Action: Youth Projects and Innovation

The workshop featured a youth-led forest project idea session where participants presented a range of impactful forest restoration concepts. These included establishing indigenous and fruit tree nurseries, restoring degraded landscapes, promoting climate education in schools, and using digital tools like GIS and remote sensing for forest monitoring. Others focused on sustainable timber planting, empowering women in forest management, and engaging youth through storytelling and school-based outreach. Some projects also explored nutrition-sensitive forestry, such as integrating fruit trees in farms and forests, and emphasizing partnerships with local governments, NGOs, and faith-based institutions to scale impact.

Eva Ntara, the Young Forest Champion Initiative facilitator presented on the Open Foris Ground solution, a mobile-based application developed by FAO for real-time forest monitoring. Participants learned how to use the app to map restoration sites, collect GPS data, and track restoration progress, gaining practical skills to support local community action.

One of the participants, Lando Ivan, who is deaf, shared a moving reflection:

“I learnt how to use Open Foris Ground and make coordinates for the trees I plant. The workshop motivated me to start small and develop a project for tree nursery establishment that can attract sponsors. I have also learnt from mentors on the panel who fueled me with energy. I’m motivated and I know now that I must never give up.”

 

Field Visit to Mpanga Forest Reserve: Restoration in Practice

On the final day of the workshop, participants visited Mpanga Central Forest Reserve, a 453-hectare natural forest near Kampala known for its exceptional biodiversity. Home to hundreds of species of trees, birds, butterflies, and moths, Mpanga also faces growing pressure from encroachment, firewood collection, and past storm damage that affected 200-hectares of the forest. The visit offered a real-world perspective on the complexities of forest management and the urgent need for restoration.

The Young Champions actively contributed by planting 200 indigenous seedlings using strip planting methods. They used FAO’s Open Foris Ground to geolocate the planted trees in a survey, gaining practical experience in digital forest monitoring. The exercise reinforced the importance of combining traditional restoration practices with modern technology to enhance accountability, learning, and long-term impact.

Champion Voices: Motivation, Tools, and Transformation

Throughout the workshop, the Champions shared heartfelt reflections on how the experience had transformed their outlook and equipped them with tools for impact:

Arinaitwe Patricia: “It was amazing to get hands-on experience with GIS tools like Ground. Presenting my project helped me affirm my role in conservation. I now feel ready to continue leading projects in my community.”

Bwambale Lovic: "This programme has boosted my understanding of forest monitoring and restoration. With my IT background, I am excited to use these tools to train others and grow my impact.”

Racheal Katushabe, from World Food Forum Uganda, one of the key partners, noted: “We are thrilled to have taken part in this activity. As youth, we pledge to continue this drive. I learnt how to take area coordinates, and this will help me in my daily work as an agripreneur who manages farms.”

The AIM4Forests workshop in Uganda closed with renewed momentum to scale youth-led restoration and innovation. Participants left with new friendships, expanded networks, and the confidence to transform their ideas into action. Online mentorship sessions and peer group discussions will continue throughout the year.

“We have mobilized over 2 million youth across Uganda for climate and forest action. What we see here is not just hope, it’s leadership in motion. The future of Uganda’s forests is in capable, committed hands, and these Young Forest Champions are already leading the way,” said Edwin Muhumuza, Founder of Youth Go Green.

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