Pader among districts to benefit from global forest restoration initiative

21 May 2026, 6:31 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Leaders and technical officials in Pader District have commenced implementation of a global forest and landscape restoration programme aimed at improving environmental conservation, supporting livelihoods and strengthening Uganda’s climate commitments.

Speaking during an inception meeting held at Pader District headquarters on Thursday, James Omoding, the Senior Project Officer at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said the five-year Forest Landscape Restoration Hub project seeks to restore environmentally degraded areas while improving livelihoods for communities dependent on natural resources.

Omoding said the project is a global programme being implemented in six countries, three in Latin America and three in Africa, with Uganda selected among the African beneficiaries.

According to him, the initiative aligns with Uganda’s environmental restoration frameworks and landscape management plans developed by government over the years.

He explained that beyond restoration efforts, the project will support alternative livelihood activities so communities benefit economically while protecting the environment.

The project, funded for five years from 2026 to 2030, was nationally launched about a month ago in Kampala by Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Omoding said similar inception engagements had already been conducted in Lamwo, Kitgum and Agago districts before reaching Pader, marking the beginning of implementation in the Acholi sub-region.

Alfred Akena, the LC V Chairperson of Pader District, welcomed the initiative, saying Uganda’s selection among only three African countries reflected the country’s commitment to environmental restoration.

Akena said the project would strengthen environmental reporting systems at district level while improving livelihoods through commercial activities such as beekeeping, tree planting and other income-generating ventures.

He also emphasized the need for leaders to champion restoration efforts by leading through example.

Akena reiterated his pledge to support tree planting in the district, saying his administration targets planting five million timber and fruit trees by 2030.

“In my manifesto, I committed that within five years we want to plant five million trees. If we work together with organizations like this, then we should start thinking big,” he said.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment in partnership with IUCN and other partners, with a focus on restoration financing, environmental data management and community livelihoods.

Suzan Adong, the acting chief administrative officer for Pader district welcoming participants to the inception meeting, commended the project implementers for selecting Pader among the beneficiary districts.

Adong said the district had suffered significant environmental degradation due to indiscriminate tree cutting driven by demand for firewood and charcoal.

She noted that deforestation had negatively affected the district and welcomed the Forest Landscape Restoration project’s focus on tree planting and restoration efforts.

Adong also welcomed the project’s livelihood component, particularly support for beekeeping, saying many community members had already embraced the practice.

She pledged the district’s technical support toward successful implementation of the initiative.

In attendance was BOniface Pule, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner Pader, Stephen Okello Freddy the Chairperson LCIII Angagura sub county, and the community members of the Angagura sub county.