About 73 percent of Ugandan households use wood fuel for cooking, with a high percentage in rural areas. The 2024 National Population and Housing Census reported that 65 percent of households use firewood, while 48.6 percent use charcoal. This continued high reliance on wood fuel for energy needs has led to a high rate of deforestation. Statistics show that between 2015 and 2020, the country lost an estimated 51,100 hectares of forest.
In the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains, a quiet revolution in conservation is underway. At its heart lies the Kyaninga Forest Foundation, a local movement bringing forests back to life, as Betty Mudondo reports.
