Uganda

Understanding fire ecology is a primary consideration in planning and implementing fire management. Some high risk forests must be protected from wildfires, whereas fire plays an integral role in savanna ecosystems, so it is essential to better understand human use of fire. Guidelines for all stakeholders must be developed that align with their respective management priorities and implemented, and provide the required skills and equipment to key stakeholders to manage wildfire risk. Three overarching considerations are identified, as the country moves forward to developing, adopting and implementing an effective fire management strategy. These are the need to improve communication, collaboration, and coordination. 

This guide provides examples of different forms of intercropping or agroforestry that differ in species, spacing and timing, ranging from regular arrangements to where oil palms and other crops are intermingled. It is intended to offer ideas and inspiration to extensionists in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the private sector partner Bidco Uganda Limited (known in Uganda as BIDCO), farmers they support, students of agriculture and other future investors in this industry.

This brief summarizes a participatory planning process that led to the development of six subcounty land use plans in three districts. It outlines the purpose and the process, compares two examples, and offers recommendations that will lead towards more sustainable land use that better reflect the needs and priorities of local communities in those subcounties and provides lessons for other districts to learn from. 

Expansion of oil palm production in Uganda has certainly brought economic benefits. But these have been inequitably distributed and have been accompanied by negative environmental and social impacts. This brief proposes different options that allow farmers to overcome some of these impacts by mixing oil palm with other crops that can increase smallholder incomes, resilience and biodiversity. It summarizes international experiences supported by surveys that show that Ugandan farmers are already experimenting with and adopting intercropping, and based on findings and lessons learned, offers specific recommendations for the government, private sector, extensionists, and farmer associations.