Environmental degradation in Uganda: the case of deforestation and forestry rehabilitation strategies in Wakisi sub-country

This study is a systematic investigation into environmental degradation and forestry rehabilitation strategies in wakisi sub-county, Mukono district, in Central Uganda. The study examines analyses and characterizes the nature, extent, causes and impacts of deforestation and forestry rehabilitation strategies and the role of and involvement of women in natural resource use and conservation. The analysis involves socio-economic and political factors in understanding the factors that enhance deforestation and the nature of forestry conservation policies and strategies. The environment of which forestry resources are part is seen in this study as the aggregate physical and biological factors and situations which influence the lives of human beings and all the social and cultural conditions which surround them. The human environment is therefore considered in this study to embody socio-economic, political and cultural factors. The physical and biological sets together with all the other components of the environment form the ecosystem of the nation’s production, exchange and consumption processes which impact upon factors such as deforestation. Chapter two is an overview of Uganda's political economy and forestry resource management under British colonialism. British colonialism engendered the penetration of capitalism into peasant communities in Wakisi sub-county. The result was the distortion of mechanisms that had been instituted by the peasant communities in the conservation of forestry resources. Rules to ensure social equity, stable livelihood and resource sustainability were dismantled with the penetration of colonialism especially with the spread of cash crop cultivation such as cotton by peasants. Colonial State policies were designed to meet the needs of the colonial economy. The colonial interests were geared toward exploitation of forestry resources rather than conservation. The colonial state policies were carried over into post independence period which is discussed in Chapter three. The socio-economic and political chaos that ensued in Uganda after independence especially between 1966 and 1986, exacerbated deforestation trends. Chapter four is the analysis of our research findings. The study shows that deforestation and forestry rehabilitation strategies in Wakisi sub-county have been impacted upon by demographic factors such as population pressure and migration; type and level of technology; and livestock production practices. Further, the production, distribution and consumption of forestry resources is largely determined by labour and social relations at the local and national levels. Unbalanced agrarian relations due to sharp socio-economic inequalities between the different categories of peasants, gender and capitalists have resulted into deforestation. In the absence of proper Forest policies and structural transformation especially at the community level, peasant participation in forestry conservation will continue to be problematic. Even efforts by Donor Agencies for environmentalcum-forest resource conservation will continue to be based on technical solutions without much success in the provision of basic needs such as fuel wood, food and fodder to the majority of the peasants.