By Aggrey Baba
[When the roots of a tree are deep, it fears no wind]. This African proverb speaks volumes about the new effort being planted in the soil of Uganda’s West Nile sub region.
The Ministry of Water and Environment, together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has launched a five-year initiative aimed at restoring natural resources and improving harmony between refugees and host communities.
The project, known as the Sustainable Natural Resources Management and Enhanced Refugee-Host Coexistence Project (SUNReC), officially began in January 2025. Its main focus is to promote sustainable land and forest management through agroforestry, using a farmer-field school model that is expected to benefit at least 1,000 households.
SUNReC will also support the regeneration of degraded landscapes, conservation of Shea trees, and enhancement of Shea value chains, alongside spreading environmental awareness and strengthening district forestry services.
Although the project will cover all 12 districts in the West Nile, five districts, of Moyo, Pakwach, Yumbe, Terego, and Arua, have been selected for priority intervention. These were chosen based on a baseline survey conducted between March 2nd and 15th, 2025.
To pave the way for successful implementation, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting was held on Tuesday, at Fairway Hotel in Kampala. The meeting was chaired by Mr. David Okurut, Director of the Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA), who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment.
The committee reviewed and approved the selected pilot districts and provided guidance on the strategic direction of the project.
Other key figures at the meeting included Commissioner of FSSD, Madam Adata Margaret, Mr. Issa Katwesige, National Project Coordinator and Assistant Commissioner FSSD Mr. Bob Kazungu, Assistant Commissioner for Forestry, Assessment & Monitoring, Mr. Hideshi Yamashita, Senior Representative JICA Uganda, Mr. Yasuo Ohno, Chief Advisor SUNReC, and Mr. Igulot Patrick, Project Manager SUNReC.
Officials from other key government agencies such as the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), along with staff from JICA and FSSD, also took part.
The official launch of the SUNReC Project is scheduled for April 15th, 2025, in Arua City, and it will be preceded by an inception meeting with local leaders, the OPM, NFA, and other stakeholders.
