On the edge of Kayunga district, where the Namananga central forest reserve once stretched green and thick, the land today tells a story of loss.
Pineapple fields push into the forest’s borders, and the stumps of felled trees scar what used to be a thriving catchment for streams feeding nearby communities.
Last week, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) announced it was stepping into that story with a pledge of more than 372 million shillings to bring part of the forest back to life. In partnership with the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and Rotary, UBL will fund the planting of 80,000 indigenous tree seedlings across degraded sections of the 459-hectare reserve.
For conservationists, it is more than symbolic. Namananga is a vital ecological corridor, linking Mabira forest with the Musamya swamp, and a crucial catchment for the Nalwe and Wugula streams.
But years of timber harvesting, charcoal burning and firewood collection—combined with agricultural expansion, particularly for pineapple farming—have eaten away at the reserve.
“We’ve seen enormous pressure on this ecosystem,” said Martin Mwodi Kegere, the director of Plantations Development at NFA.
“Partnerships with corporates like UBL are vital if we are to reverse this damage. This initiative aligns with our Strategic Plan 2020–2025, which seeks to raise forest cover from 15 per cent in 2010 to 24 per cent by 2040, in line with Uganda Vision 2040.”
That target remains ambitious. Global Forest Watch estimates Uganda’s forest cover stood at 13.3 per cent in 2024, a modest climb from 9.5 per cent in 2015. The progress is real, but fragile.
“It’s not just about planting trees,” Mwodi stressed.
“It’s about nurturing them, ensuring they survive and grow into forests that last.”
A CORPORATE COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION
For Uganda Breweries, the project is the latest step in a growing environmental portfolio. Earlier this year, the company launched a one-billion-shilling Water Collective Action Program to protect water-stressed catchments across the country.
In 2018, UBL partnered with NFA to restore degraded sections of Gangu forest in Butambala. Two years later, it joined the ministry of Water and Environment in the “Running Out of Trees” campaign, which aimed to plant 40 million trees nationwide.
“We are committed to conserving the environment and supporting the coun- try’s afforestation agenda,” said UBL’s managing director, Andrew Kilonzo, during the signing of the new partnership.
“As the first major manufacturer to commit significant funds to catchment protection in Uganda, we are setting an example, while encouraging other industry players to amplify environmental impact.”
Rotary, which will help implement the Namananga project, framed the work as part of a wider movement to make environmental conservation a shared responsibility.
“Through Rotary Mission Green, we are planting trees and mobilizing Ugandans to conserve the environment for generations to come,” said Christine Kyeyune Kawooya, the district governor of Rotary District 9214.
“The future of our environment lies in partnerships that pool resources, expertise and commitment.”
The Namananga restoration project begins immediately, with UBL providing the full financial commitment, NFA offering technical expertise in forest management, and Rotary mobilizing community engagement.
For the communities around Kayunga, where streams are drying and soil erosion is eating into farmland, the stakes are not abstract. Restoring Namananga is not only about forest cover, but about livelihoods, water security, and the ability to pass on a healthier environment to the next generation.
As Kilonzo put it: “This is about ensuring that Uganda’s natural heritage does not just survive, but also thrives.”