ADJUMANI, Uganda — Adjumani District has emerged as the best-performing district under the recently concluded Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Woodlots Programme, exceeding its tree-planting target and boosting the future supply of timber, poles, fuelwood and other forest products in refugee-hosting communities.
The programme, implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment with support from the World Bank, was designed to promote sustainable forest management, restore tree cover, strengthen climate resilience and create alternative sources of income for communities hosting refugees.
According to project records, Adjumani surpassed its five-year target of 368 hectares by establishing 544 hectares of commercial woodlots, making it the highest-performing district under the programme.
Other districts also exceeded their targets. Amuru established 482 hectares against a target of 412 hectares, while Lamwo planted 291 hectares, surpassing its target of 255 hectares. Moyo achieved 219 hectares against a target of 184 hectares, and Obongi, which had the smallest target of 93 hectares, established 160 hectares, nearly doubling its goal.
The achievements were recorded despite implementation delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the time required to onboard implementing partners. Although the project was originally designed as a five-year programme beginning in 2020, much of the work was completed within a compressed implementation period.
Speaking on the programme’s impact, Denis Emmanuel Oweka, Regional Coordinator for the IFPA-CD Project in the West Nile and North-East region, said the initiative was intended to improve livelihoods while addressing the growing demand for forest products in refugee-hosting areas.
“The objective of the project is to supply timber, poles and firewood to refugee-hosting areas while increasing tree cover and contributing to climate change mitigation,” Oweka said.
He noted that the expanding refugee population has created a ready market for commercial tree growers.
“We are looking at tree growing as a business. Communities living near refugee settlements have an opportunity to supply timber, poles and firewood directly to the camps, creating an additional source of income for households,” he added.
The programme was implemented through a consortium comprising NIRAS, Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST), Havilah Company Limited, and Green Life International.
ECOTRUST led community mobilisation and farmer engagement, equipping beneficiaries with practical skills in commercial forestry and helping them appreciate tree growing as a long-term investment.
Participating farmers received training in land preparation, correct tree spacing, pitting, weed management and pest control. They also participated in the project’s “Vision Road Journey”, a planning approach that encourages farmers to align commercial forestry with long-term household income goals.
The project promoted fast-growing clonal eucalyptus varieties, which mature within three to five years, enabling farmers to generate quicker returns on investment. Farmers also established plantations of Tectona grandis (Sudanese teak), a high-value timber species that matures within eight to fifteen years under proper management.
Beyond their economic value, the woodlots are expected to contribute to environmental restoration by increasing tree cover, sequestering carbon, improving air quality and enhancing resilience to climate change.
Project officials said the strong performance recorded across the participating districts demonstrates growing community confidence in commercial forestry as a viable enterprise capable of improving household incomes while supporting environmental conservation.
With the conclusion of the IFPA-CD Woodlots Programme, thousands of hectares of newly established plantations are expected to strengthen Uganda’s future supply of timber and other forest products while providing lasting economic and ecological benefits for refugee-hosting communities.