Deforestation is increasing at an alarming rate in the West Nile Region of Uganda, due to high demand and market for charcoal and tobacco curing. The study carried out by Trocaire Uganda and Adraa Agriculture has certainly indicated that 23.8% of the natural vegetation has been cleared for these purposes over the last 10 years. Not forgetting that this region is one of the leading tobacco producers in Uganda and yet with a communal ownership of trees which further weakens responsible management of the resource.
The issue of forest degradation affects the entire country and what needs to be done is to strengthen the governance arm of resource management as well as re-thinking of other economically viable activities for the people.