Mount Elgon National Park, a critical biodiversity hotspot and watershed, is facing severe threats from deforestation. This alarming trend poses a dire risk to the park’s diverse plant and animal species and the ecosystems that sustain local communities, particularly in the Bugisu sub-region.
Spanning 494 square miles along the Uganda-Kenya border, Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 400 species of plants, birds, and large mammals, including elephants, buffaloes, and primates. The park’s rich altitudinal vegetation supports a unique and complex ecosystem.
However, data from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) reveals that deforestation has cleared 1,935 acres (three square miles) of parkland. Local encroachment, particularly in Namisindwa, Bududa, Kween, Bukwo, and Sironko districts, is the primary cause. On average, UWA arrests ten individuals monthly for illegal logging and other encroachments.
The consequences of this deforestation are devastating, leading to disasters such as floods, loss of soil fertility, and the drying of rivers. Stella Namono, a resident of Bupoto Sub-county in Namisindwa District, highlights the issue: “The streams that flow from the mountain feed into rivers and make our soils fertile. However, this is now changing because the rivers are drying up. This means the source (the streams) has been tampered with.”
Namono also expressed concern over the government’s apparent lack of urgency in addressing the deforestation, which threatens both the park’s flora and fauna. “It used to be grassy, but now it is becoming bare,” she lamented.
Mount Elgon National Park is one of Uganda’s largest water catchment areas, feeding several lakes, rivers, and swamps in eastern Uganda and western Kenya. Daily Monitor investigations have identified several tree species facing extinction due to deforestation, including Elgon teak, mahogany, neoboutonia, macrocalys, podocarpus latifolius, and medicinal trees. The loss of fruit trees that serve as food for primates like the white calabash monkey, red-tail monkey, and velvet monkey is also a significant concern.
James Manana, a resident of Masaba Sub-county in Sironko District, notes that locals cut down trees for farming and settlement. “This has been the major driver of wildlife decline and climate variations. Previously, we knew that the rains in the first season start in the month of February. However, this has changed. The rains now come in April. The degradation of the park is due to population pressure,” he explained.
In addition to deforestation, other harmful activities such as charcoal burning and poor agricultural practices contribute to landslides, which have claimed at least 1,500 lives in the Bugisu sub-region over the past decade, with 70% of these deaths occurring in Bududa District.
The government has begun addressing these issues, recognizing Mount Elgon National Park’s importance as a water source for millions. Samuel Amanya, the chief warden of the Mount Elgon Conservation Area, emphasized ongoing efforts to combat encroachment. “We are arresting loggers and charcoal burners, especially in Kween District, which is the lead encroacher. We are also encouraging people to voluntarily leave the park,” Amanya stated.
Amanya highlighted the benefits of a well-managed forest, noting that trees absorb carbon dioxide, storing carbon in their wood for centuries, thus playing a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Despite these efforts, locals accuse the government of double standards, pointing to factories releasing pollutants into wetlands as a significant environmental issue. Imran Muluga, the Resident District Commissioner of Namisindwa, stated that the government has initiated community engagements on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience within the Mount Elgon Conservation Area.
Muluga mentioned, “District leaders from the Mount Elgon Conservation Area had an engagement and were sensitized on ecosystem restoration with emphasis on tree planting. We resolved to champion tree growing and restoration and environmental education through radio talk shows and community sensitization meetings.”
Communities surrounding the park are actively participating in restoration and conservation activities. Ivan Magombe, a resident of Bushiyi Sub-county in Bududa District, shared that several hectares of indigenous trees have been restored through the Collaborative Forest Restoration Initiative.
Bashir Hangi, the UWA communication manager, outlined collaborative efforts with local communities for reforestation and sustainable resource management. “We have areas in the park where we plant softwood trees and invite the community to use the land for crop cultivation. As they weed their crops, they also weed our trees until the trees can no longer support their crops,” Hangi explained.
UWA also organizes days for community members to harvest resources like firewood and medicinal plants under supervision, ensuring sustainable use.
In April, the government announced plans to plant 300,000 high-value trees in eastern Uganda to combat climate change. However, boundary disputes between residents and UWA remain unresolved, further complicating conservation efforts.
Bashir Hangi acknowledged these challenges: “Even after the Ministry of Lands demarcated the park’s boundaries, the communities are disputing the demarcations. UWA does not determine the boundaries of protected areas. We guard the boundaries as defined by the Ministry of Lands.”
As efforts continue to address deforestation and encroachment, the preservation of Mount Elgon National Park remains a critical priority for ensuring the well-being of its diverse ecosystems and the millions who depend on its resources.