In a bid to address the root causes of deforestation while promoting reforestation and sustainable economic growth, the European Union (EU) has pledged EUR 40 million (approx. USHS 167 billion) in grant financing to Uganda.
The announcement came amidst a high-profile visit to Uganda by Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries.
Commissioner Sinkevičius, during his visit, convened with Uganda’s President Museveni to inaugurate the new EU Forestry program in collaboration with Uganda, drawing upon the EU’s extensive forestry expertise in the nation.
“These milestones underscore our shared commitment to realizing the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Global Gateway,” remarked Sinkevičius. “This includes amplifying the role of forests in the bio-economy and fostering sustainable trade flows of timber materials.”
President Museveni commended the EU’s support to the sector, emphasizing its potential to safeguard Uganda’s forests and combat encroachment.
“This initiative is laudable as it will aid in protecting our forests and addressing encroachment issues,” stated Museveni.
Sinkevičius acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the EU and Uganda, particularly over the past 15 years, in laying the groundwork for commercial forestry and implementing inclusive solutions to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation.
Uganda’s proactive stance was highlighted, with the nation among the first five globally to sign a Forest Partnership Agreement with the EU at COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
The new Forest program, launched at the State House Entebbe, aims to stimulate inclusive investments and create job opportunities in sustainable forestry, enhance forest cover, and bolster forest resource governance.
Implementation partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, will collaborate closely to ensure the program’s success.
The EU Forest Partnership, aligned with the new forestry program, seeks to empower forests to fulfill their economic, social, and environmental roles, addressing the collective responsibility towards forests amidst human and development needs.
This commitment underscores the EU’s continued support for Uganda’s efforts to restore and preserve its forest cover for sustainable development.
