By Mulengera Reporters
The pearl of Africa is facing a growing crisis, where millions of people are struggling to find food, while the forests that sustain the country’s food systems are disappearing at an alarming rate.
These urgent issues took center stage at the 8th Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK 2025), a week-long event that brought together policymakers, environmentalists, researchers, farmers, and community leaders to discuss solutions to the country’s most pressing environmental and food security challenges.
Speaking at the event, Jacinta Nekesa, Executive Director of Environmental Alert, painted a grim picture of Uganda’s hunger crisis. She revealed that 18.4 million Ugandans are food insecure, with some regions suffering more than others.
In Karamoja, 63% of the population struggles to find food daily. Teso and Bukedi each have 50% food insecurity, while West Nile stands at 48% and Lango at 41%. According to the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Uganda ranks 95th out of 125 countries, highlighting the severity of the problem.
But hunger is only part of the crisis. Nekesa also warned that Uganda’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, making the food situation even worse. She cited statistics from the Ministry of Water and Environment, showing that Uganda’s forest cover has shrunk from 24% in 1990 to just 12.2% in 2023.
Deforestation, illegal logging, and land clearance for agriculture and settlements are pushing Uganda to the brink of an environmental disaster. Without forests, rivers dry up, soil loses fertility, and unpredictable weather patterns make farming even more difficult.
However, Nekesa did not just sound the alarm, but also led by example. She revealed that she and her husband have already planted more than 300 trees in Kamuli, Eastern Uganda, as part of their commitment to restoring the country’s lost forest cover. She urged every Ugandan to do the same, emphasizing that planting trees is not just about the environment, but survival. “Let us plant trees, protect, and restore our forests. This is an urgent call for the well-being of our planet, our country, and future generations,” she said.
The discussions at UWEWK 2025 made one thing clear, that Uganda is at a crossroads. The loss of forests and rising hunger are two sides of the same coin.
Without urgent action, millions will continue to suffer, and the country’s natural resources will dwindle beyond repair. But if Ugandans come together, planting trees, protecting forests, and embracing sustainable practices, there is still hope for a brighter future.
As the old saying goes, [The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now], Uganda must act before it is too late. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
