NAIROBI, Kenya – The governments of Kenya and Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly manage and develop the Mount Elgon ecosystem as a transboundary biosphere reserve. The agreement, signed in March 2025, aims to foster collaboration for the sustainable use of natural resources and the preservation of the shared environment.
Recognizing Mount Elgon as a vital transboundary ecosystem where humans, livestock, and wildlife have coexisted for centuries, the two East African Community partner states acknowledged the severe environmental and economic impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and changing land use patterns.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation and coordination to promote joint actions for the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of the Mount Elgon ecosystem. It also sets up institutional arrangements for joint action and management and seeks to support socio-economic development through enhanced joint tourism and business opportunities.
Key areas of collaboration outlined in the agreement include:
- Strengthening the capacity of relevant institutions.
- Formulating joint plans, programs, and projects with shared resource allocation.
- Promoting the management of Mount Elgon as a crucial water tower for East Africa.
- Developing and implementing harmonized transboundary strategies for land degradation control, pollution and waste management, climate change response, and the restoration of degraded areas and biodiversity.
- Promoting transboundary law enforcement and monitoring mechanisms, including joint patrols.
- Integrating cultural practices and traditional knowledge into natural resource management.
- Jointly promoting cross-border tourism through a transboundary ecotourism master plan.
- Collaborating on climate-resilient strategies and resource mobilization.
- Facilitating information sharing and the development of benefit-sharing frameworks.
- Initiating measures to rehabilitate encroached and degraded areas.
The MoU establishes a three-tiered management structure: a Joint Committee of Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries for policy formulation and oversight, a Joint Technical Committee for developing management plans and strategies, and a Joint Implementation Committee for on-the-ground implementation of activities.
While the MoU signifies a strong commitment to transboundary collaboration, it clarifies that the legal status and management authorities for the ecosystem on each side of the border will remain under their respective national laws. The zoning of the transboundary biosphere reserve will be mutually agreed upon and will not constitute an international boundary.
The agreement, effective upon signing, will remain valid for an initial period of ten years and will be automatically extended for subsequent ten-year periods unless either party provides a one-year advance written notice of termination.
The signing of this MoU marks a significant step towards enhanced cooperation between Kenya and Uganda in safeguarding the vital Mount Elgon ecosystem for present and future generations.
