Kabarole targets restoration of more than 1,000 hectares of degraded land

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Kabarole district is set to reclaim large swathes of degraded land in an intervention aimed at reversing environmental decline and strengthening climate resilience in the Rwenzori sub-region.

Under the Sustainable Land Management component of the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project, the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, will support the district to restore 1,485 hectares of degraded land.

The announcement was made on January 24, 2026, during the presentation of preliminary findings on land degradation in Kabarole district. 

Speaking at the meeting, Andrew Evans Opio, the senior agricultural inspector at the agriculture ministry, painted a sobering picture of land degradation across the Rwenzori sub-region.

“Out of the total land area in the Rwenzori sub-region, 285,039 hectares are severely degraded,” Opio revealed. “Through this project, 8,026 hectares will be restored across the region.”

In Kabarole district, Opio noted that 52,731 hectares of land have been severely degraded, largely due to population pressure and unsustainable land-use practices. He explained that the project’s intervention in the district will focus on restoring 1,485 hectares, targeting the most affected areas.

According to the preliminary findings, Kasenda town council and Karangura subcounty emerged as the lower local governments most affected by land degradation and in urgent need of intervention.

Opio said the restoration efforts will involve both on-farm and off-farm activities designed to improve soil health, restore ecosystems and support sustainable agricultural production.

Further detailing the approach, Joan Namakula from the agriculture ministry said the restoration will prioritise agroforestry, afforestation and reforestation, rehabilitation of degraded watersheds, and the promotion of positive land-use practices.

“These interventions are not only about restoring land,” Namakula said. “They are about building resilience for farmers, protecting water sources, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change.”

Arthur Hakiza, the deputy chief administrative officer of Kabarole district, applauded the government for what he described as a timely intervention.

“Land remains a scarce resource, yet our population continues to grow,” Hakiza said. “The high levels of degradation we are witnessing in Kabarole are largely a result of population pressure. This project comes at the right time.”

In his remarks, Mike Mukiibi, the assistant resident district commissioner for Kabarole, called for the scaling up of the interventions beyond the initially targeted areas.

“This should not stop at only a few sub-counties,” Mukiibi said. “We need to extend these efforts across the district.”

He also encouraged farmers to embrace agroforestry practices, noting that integrating trees into farming systems is a practical way to mitigate the effects of climate change while improving farm productivity.