Julius Engwedu

Uganda's forests are among the country's most valuable natural resources, providing essential ecosystem services including rainfall regulation, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, soil protection, water catchment management, and livelihoods for millions of people. Forest ecosystems are globally significant biodiversity hotspots and serve as critical habitats for wildlife, including endangered primates and numerous bird species. Despite their importance, Uganda continues to...

In rural Uganda, the responsibility of feeding families and sustaining communities often rests on women working on small plots of land—often less than two acres. As climate change disrupts rainfall patterns and degrades soil fertility, these women are not just coping; they are innovating. Across the country, small-scale women farmers are using agroecology to rebuild resilience, restore their soils, and secure food for their households. Agriculture remains the backbone of rural livelihoods in...

Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that 33% of soils are degraded. Uganda’s situation is even more critical, with 46% of the country’s soils degraded, according to national assessments. In a region already losing 5 to 12 tons of topsoil per hectare annually, the implications for rural livelihoods, food systems, and national development are severe. In Uganda, where 80% of arable land is managed by small-scale farmers, soil degradation directly translates into reduced...