Following a series of devastating landslides in eastern Uganda, the Government, through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has launched direct interventions aimed at restoring degraded areas along the slopes of Mount Elgon to reduce the risk of future disasters and strengthen ecosystem conservation.
The intervention is part of a five-year Government of Uganda project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UN Environment. The initiative, themed “Promoting Integrated Landscape Management Approach for Conservation of the Mount Elgon Ecosystem in Eastern Uganda,” seeks to enhance food security while safeguarding ecosystems that provide critical goods and services to rural communities in the Mount Elgon landscape.
The project is being implemented by NEMA in collaboration with national and district-level partners. It covers 38 sub-counties across the districts of Bududa, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa, Kween, Manafwa, Mbale, Namisindwa, and Sironko — areas that have historically been prone to landslides due to environmental degradation, deforestation, and fragile terrain.
According to NEMA’s Executive Director, the government’s goal is to strengthen conservation efforts in a way that directly supports rural livelihoods and improves food security. By restoring degraded hillsides and promoting sustainable land-use practices, authorities aim to reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, and stabilize vulnerable slopes.
During a recent site visit to Bududa District, the
