In the hills of southwestern Uganda, a powerful wave of community action unfolded as over 300 residents from Bushenyi and Ibanda districts took to the streets of Kyamuhunga town and Kicuzi town. They marched peacefully; their voices united in a call to protect two precious natural treasures: the Kalinzu and Kasyoha-Kitomi Central Forest Reserves. Organized by chapter members, this march was more than a protest; it was a stand against the rapid destruction threatening these vital forests and a clear demonstration of how communities are actively responding to the challenges of climate change.
A Treasure Under Threat
Kalinzu and Kasyoha-Kitomi lie close to each other in Uganda’s southwestern region, both managed by the National Forestry Authority as medium-altitude moist evergreen forests. Kalinzu spans about 137 square kilometers and sits near Queen Elizabeth National Park, while the larger Kasyoha-Kitomi covers approximately 392 square kilometers south of Lake George and the Kazinga Channel.
These forests teem with rich biodiversity, providing sanctuary to chimpanzees and other primates such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, baboons, and red-tailed monkeys. Hundreds of bird species flutter through the canopy, sharing the forest with diverse trees, butterflies, and countless other forms of wildlife. Yet, the shadows of illegal logging and encroachment loom over this ecological haven.
Beyond their ecological richness, these forests deliver essential services to both nature and people. They serve as critical water catchments, ensuring rivers and streams continue flowing even during dry seasons. By absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, they help regulate the local climate and mitigate the impacts of global warming. For nearby communities, the forests offer sustainable resources like firewood, medicinal plants, and honey, while chimpanzee tracking attracts eco-tourists whose spending boosts local incomes through food, transport, and lodging. However, these benefits are increasingly under threat.
The Community Steps Up
For many months, community forest monitors equipped with the Forest Watcher mobile application have documented alarming rates of illegal logging, charcoal burning, and agricultural encroachment. Since 2024, these monitors from Kyamuhunga and Kasyoha communities have conducted quarterly patrols, receiving frequent alerts showing trees being cut and cleared within the reserves.
“Every time we check the app, we see the same problem,” one monitor shared. “We report it to the forest supervisors, but little seems to change on the ground.”
Many community members point to collusion between some community members and dishonest forest officers as a major obstacle to effective protection. Tired of watching their forests shrink, the monitors and Community Forest Management groups decided to act boldly.
They organized the peaceful marches to educate the public, name those involved in the destruction, and demand stronger accountability. As the procession moved through the towns, men, women, youth, and elders walked side by side, carrying placards and singing songs of hope and resistance. They paused at trading centers to speak directly with community members, using simple, powerful language to explain why these forests matter so much for their daily lives and for the future.
A mother of three who has lived near Kalinzu for over twenty years captured the community’s deep connection to the land as she marched:
“These forests give us rain and clean water for our gardens and animals. If we cut them all, our children will suffer from drought and hunger. I joined this march because I want my grandchildren to see the chimpanzees and walk under the tall trees just as I did when I was young.”
Another forest monitor from the Kasyoha added:
“We have clear evidence from the app showing where trees are being cut every month, sometimes with help from inside the system. During this march, we are telling everyone: we know what is happening, and it must stop. We want those entrusted to protect the forest to stand with the community, not against it.”
Connecting the Dots: Climate and Livelihoods
As they walked, the participants highlighted the direct link between forest destruction and climate change. They explained how healthy forests act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing harmful greenhouse gases. When trees are felled and burned for charcoal or farming, that stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to unpredictable weather patterns.
In Uganda, this has already resulted in longer dry spells that destroy crops and heavier rains that trigger floods and soil erosion, making life harder for farming families. The marchers also stressed the economic importance of protecting the forests. They reminded everyone that thriving forests support eco-tourism, particularly chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu, which brings valuable income to the area. Destroying these habitats would not only harm wildlife but also eliminate an important source of livelihood for people.
“We are not against development,” one participant from the Kasyoha-Kitomi area declared. “We want our people to farm and earn money, but we can do it without destroying the forests. There is enough land outside the reserves for agriculture. Let us protect what belongs to all of us and to our children.”
Planting Seeds for the Future
At the beginning and end of the marches, participants planted symbolic trees as a gesture of renewal and commitment. Through these actions, the community sent a clear message: forest protection is not solely the responsibility of the government or the National Forestry Authority; it is everyone’s duty.
By coming together, ordinary citizens can hold leaders accountable, promote sustainable practices, and build resilience against the impacts of climate change. Faced with national forest loss driven by population pressure, agriculture, and governance challenges, communities are choosing education, unity, and peaceful advocacy as powerful tools for change. Their efforts show that when communities actively engage, they can slow down degradation, restore hope, and secure a greener future for generations to come.
The fight to save Kalinzu and Kasyoha-Kitomi continues, but the seed of awareness planted by these 300 marchers has already begun to grow. Every voice raised, every step taken in unity, and every tree protected brings southwestern Uganda closer to preserving its chimpanzees, its clean water sources, its climate stability, and its shared heritage.
As one participant powerfully summarized:
“We are walking because our forest is being destroyed daily through illegal logging and clearing, which is fueled by corruption. If we don’t act now, we will lose our chimpanzees, clean water, and the future of our children.”