Uganda - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Uganda is a landlocked country located where seven of Africa’s biogeographic regions converge, making it a country with a high level of biodiversity. Despite its small size, Uganda has an extraordinary amount of diversity in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The Nile River passes through it, punctuated by various falls, like the Bujagali Falls, Karuma Falls and Murchison Falls... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

Threats to biodiversity are identified as encroachment (prevalent in all types of protected areas); human-wildlife conflicts; illegal grazing in national parks; poaching and illicit trade in wildlife; use of destructive fishing gears and technologies; deforestation; urbanization and industrialization; introduction of alien species; encroachment of wetlands; drainage of wetlands; replacement of local crop varieties by introduced commercial varities; loss of other indigenous species found in cultivated areas; poverty; introduction of new breeds; systematic breed substitution and irrational genetic transformation... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

Uganda’s first NBSAP (NBSAP1) was completed in 2002. Its implementation has been successful in establishing a CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas; formulating ABS regulations; preparing a National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan; operationalizing a national CHM; studying biodiversity financing and developing Guidelines and Action Plans for Financing Biodiversity; studying the role of indigenous knowledge and practices in the conservation of medicinal plants; studying taxonomic capacity needs assessment; developing Guidelines for Sustainable Biofuel Production; determining values for the contribution of the forest sector to the national economy; and including implementation of NBSAP in in the National Development Plan II (2015/16-2019/20)... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Uganda has established national biodiversity targets within the framework provided by the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (see http://www.cbd.int/countries/targets/?country=ug).

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Since the fourth national report was prepared in 2009, the following additional relevant policies and laws have been developed and reviewed to integrate new and emerging issues: Uganda Wildlife Policy (2014); Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Bill (2013); National Wildlife Research and Training Institute Bill (2013); National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill (2012); National Land Use Policy (2011); Plant Protection and Health Bill (2010); and the National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda (2008), National Environment Act Draft Bill 2015... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

Uganda has established a national target to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy for NBSAP Implementation by 2015 (this target has been mapped to Aichi Biodiversity Target 17). Each Aichi target has been assigned to specific institutions to take lead in its implementation and these are refered to as Target Champions... More »