KAMPALA, UGANDA — The forestry sector must clearly showcase its contribution to Uganda’s national goal of achieving tenfold economic growth, a target rooted in agro-industrialization, according to a top government official.
The statement came as Fairventures Worldwide Uganda officially announced its transition to a fully localized organization, Good Forests Foundation Uganda, or GFU, ensuring continuity and greater local ownership of forest restoration efforts.
The handover was celebrated by representatives from both organizations and the government, who underscored the shared vision of restoring degraded landscapes and building resilient forest economies.
Government Calls for Accountability and Value Addition
Issa Katwesige, assistant commissioner of forestry in the Ministry of Water and Environment, highlighted the critical role the sector must play in the country’s economic agenda.
“The Ministry of Finance and the government have tasked us with contributing meaningfully to the national agenda of achieving tenfold economic growth,” Katwesige said. “As a forestry sector, we must clearly showcase our contribution to this goal, particularly through wood processing and downstream value addition.”
He commended the outgoing Fairventures Worldwide for its “significant contribution,” especially in fostering professional competence and essential skills within the sector.
Katwesige announced a crucial step toward regulating the profession: “The Ministry of Water and Environment, along with the forest sector, is now moving to legislate a professional body for foresters. This is a crucial step toward regulating conduct and enhancing accountability.”
He stressed that failures in the construction sector, such as buildings collapsing due to substandard timber, trace back to the quality of forest management, “right to the nursery where the seedlings originated.”
The assistant commissioner emphasized that the new organization’s name, “Good Forest,” must be viewed as a comprehensive philosophy.
“We must understand that ‘Good Forest’ means good everything—it’s not just about climate action; it is a way of life,” Katwesige said. He urged communities to view their trees as “their own source of livelihood and existence,” which he called the “only way we can sustain these efforts.”
Compliance and Market Access
Katwesige concluded by addressing the pressing economic challenge of international compliance. Uganda is preparing to comply with the European Union Declaration on deforestation-free commodities, or EUDR, for products like coffee and cocoa, which account for nearly 70 percent of the country’s coffee market.
“As we move forward, we need to build capacity to guide farmers on integrating these commodities—such as coffee, cocoa, and jackfruit—into existing forest systems without removing the forest itself,” he said. “This blending of production and conservation is essential.”
GFU Assumes Operations and Shifts Strategy
James Thembo, co-founder and director of Good Forest Foundation Uganda, confirmed that the new organization assumes all operations and partnerships. Fairventures Worldwide had planted approximately 2.1 million trees across 22 operational districts since 2018.
The decision to localize was a strategic one, Thembo said. “We have witnessed international organizations close their doors and depart when funding runs dry. A local organization, however, will remain committed to the cause, even through periods of financial difficulty.”
He likened the transition to a moment of national importance. “This transition mirrors the moment Uganda gained independence: the foreign flag came down, and the national flag went up. The Germans have entrusted us with independence for implementation, and we must now demonstrate the capacity and trustworthiness to deliver exceptional results.”
GFU’s future strategy includes an intentional shift toward integrating high-value cash crops with timber trees, acknowledging that waiting 10 or 15 years for timber returns is not sustainable for farmers.
“Our future strategy will intentionally integrate high-value cash crops and commodity trees, such as cocoa, coffee, and Hass avocado,” Thembo said. He noted that a farmer given 20 cocoa trees could start earning approximately 2 million shillings annually starting from the second year.
He also called for a national culture of planting, proposing that every Ugandan receiving funds through government programs like the Parish Development Model should plant at least 10 trees.
Rationale for Localized Sustainability
Patience Naamara, head of development and partnerships for GFU, detailed the measurable impact of the organization, reporting that 840,289 trees are currently standing and actively monitored, having sequestered an estimated 5,814 tons of carbon.
She explained that the rebranding was a “critical component of our long-term sustainability strategy,” driven by significant legal and financial hurdles. The foreign branch structure conflicted with local regulations, resulting in excessive taxation and auditing complexities.
“This change to a locally registered organization resolves these issues, creating a more sustainable and compliant operating model,” Naamara said. GFU now joins Good Forest Indonesia to form the “Good Forest Network,” united by the vision: “Good forests are climate solutions.”
Fairventures Worldwide Pledges Ongoing Support
Megan King, CEO of Fairventures Worldwide, confirmed that the organization is not withdrawing but is transforming its delivery model.
“Fairventures Worldwide is not going anywhere. We will remain the main donor of Good Forest Uganda for the foreseeable future,” King said.
She outlined the future role of the German organization in three key bridging functions: as a bridge for funding, taking interest and financing from partners in Germany and Europe to channel to Uganda; as a bridge for best practice, scouting global planting success stories and sharing the expertise of Ugandan foresters; and as a bridge between networks, fostering the relationship between the Ugandan and Indonesian foundations.
“Our hope is that, someday, we will become a less important donor as [Thembo] and his team fully establish their independent footing,” King said.
