Management of forests in Uganda continues to be of great concern as the country loses an estimated 80 000 ha of forest per annum (Tenywa 2008). About 95% is consumed as fuel wood (fuel wood accounts for about 90% of the energy consumed in Uganda); with a population growth rate of 3.2% per annum, the annual domestic consumption of wood is expected to increase (UBOS 2009). The decline in forest cover is expected to continue, principally due to agriculture and cutting for fuel wood. A census of encroachers by the National Forestry Authority in 2005 found that 313 of 506...

The first part of the study aimed to evaluate the policy, legal and institutional frameworks that govern natural resource management/forest management, including gender and the role of women in forest management. This was done to assess whether the frameworks provide for community and women’s participation in forest management and to identify overlaps, synergies and factors that enhance or constrain women’s participation. To that end, we undertook a desk review of documents, including Uganda’s policy and legal documents regarding community forest management and gender, sector reports and studies (Table 1). We supplemented this review with key informant interviews in purposively selected...

We reviewed forest and environment law and policy; operational strategies of forest departments/authorities; and management plans to establish the policy and legal framework for gender and community participation in forestry management in Uganda.

The government of Uganda has undergone reforms since the late 1990s, most of which have recognised gender-related issues and the importance of people’s participation in the management of development programmes. The current policy and legal frameworks regarding gender and community participation in forestry and natural resource management are outlined in the sections that follow.

The government of Uganda has over the years ratified and signed several international...

This section presents key conclusions derived from the findings of this study with associated recommendations, where necessary.

The Government of Uganda has formulated policies and laws to ensure that communities, and especially the vulnerable, participate in decisions affecting their livelihoods. The constitutional provisions for people’s participation and gender have been operationalised through the Local Government Act (1997) and the Gender Policy, among others. Affirmative action has resulted in more women holding political office both in Parliament and in local government councils. However, the forest sub-sector is still male dominated in the civil service due partly to the limited number of...