{"id":5038,"date":"2026-01-05T13:03:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T13:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/5038\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T13:03:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T13:03:09","slug":"from-wood-to-timber-how-e15m-is-transforming-ugandas-forests-into-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/5038\/","title":{"rendered":"From Wood to Timber: How \u20ac15m is Transforming Uganda\u2019s Forests into Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the outskirts of Uganda\u2019s towns and trading centres, rows of eucalyptus and pine trees stand tall\u2014quiet proof of an investment that began more than two decades ago. These forests were planted with patience in mind, and today, many of them are ready. Ready to be cut, processed, sold\u2014and to change lives.<\/p>\n

Uganda\u2019s forestry sector is at a turning point. With pressure mounting on natural forests and timber imports draining foreign exchange, plantation-grown wood is emerging as a practical, climate-smart alternative. Thanks to the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme (SPGS), the country now has 90,000 hectares of commercial forest plantations, a figure expected to push annual wood production from 350,000 cubic metres in 2020 to 2.6 million cubic metres by 2030.<\/p>\n

But trees alone do not build an industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge now is turning these trees into prosperity,\u201d says Zainabu Kakungulu, National Project Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). \u201cIf we don\u2019t strengthen processing and market linkages, much of this investment risks going to waste, or worse, could drive illegal logging from natural forests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two Decades in the Making<\/p>\n

SPGS was launched in 2004 as a partnership between the Government of Uganda and the European Union, with FAO providing technical support. Its goal was simple but ambitious: encourage private-sector investment in commercial forestry by offering grants per hectare, technical guidance, and access to certified seedlings through accredited nurseries.<\/p>\n

Over time, the programme evolved.<\/p>\n

\u201cSPGS has gone through multiple phases,\u201d explains Dr Antonio Querido, former FAO Representative in Uganda. \u201cIts third phase has been pivotal in increasing Uganda\u2019s forest estate, supporting private growers, and contributing to the country\u2019s aspiration to restore forest cover to pre-millennium levels. This approach links conservation with commercial forestry while ensuring medium- and long-term timber supply.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At the policy level, forests are about much more than timber.<\/p>\n

\u201cForests provide employment, food, medicine, energy for cooking, shelter, and a healthy environment for millions of Ugandans,\u201d says Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water and Environment. \u201cWell-managed forests contribute significantly to Uganda\u2019s economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gap Between Trees and Markets<\/p>\n

Despite this progress, a critical bottleneck remains. By 2030, plantations are expected to produce 2.6 million cubic metres of wood annually, but Uganda\u2019s sawmills, carpenters, and furniture workshops are not yet equipped to absorb or process that volume efficiently.<\/p>\n

Without investment in machinery, skills, and market standards, valuable timber risks being underpriced, wasted, or worse, encouraging unsustainable harvesting elsewhere.<\/p>\n

At Kirangwa Investments Limited in Mubende district, Dr Godfrey Bahiigwa sees the issue daily. \u201cWe produce mature pine timber\u2014no tree is cut below 17 years,\u201d he says. \u201cBut some buyers pay the same for younger, lower-quality wood. Through the Uganda Timber Growers Association, we advocate for timber standards so that growers get fair prices and consumers can access quality timber.\u201d<\/p>\n

A \u20ac15 Million Push to Close the Gap<\/p>\n

To tackle these challenges, the European Union is backing a \u20ac15 million Sustainable Wood-Based Value Chains initiative, working with partners such as AVAYO and the Gatsby Foundation to unlock private investment and strengthen processing capacity.<\/p>\n

The project focuses on ensuring a sustainable supply of legally sourced wood, expanding processing and market demand, improving access to affordable finance for wood-based SMEs, and promoting inclusive growth\u2014particularly for women.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dr Godfrey Bahiigwa at his Kirangwa sawmill in Mubende<\/p>\n

At the heart of the effort is a broader vision. \u201cTogether, the European Union and Uganda are working towards a lasting legacy of sustainable development and shared prosperity\u2014where green energy, protected forests, and inclusive economic growth reinforce one another,\u201d says Jan Sadek, Ambassador of the European Union to Uganda.<\/p>\n

Clean energy is central to this approach. \u201cBy improving access to clean and affordable energy, particularly in rural communities, we can ease pressure on forests while creating new economic opportunities and supporting climate action.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Kakungulu, the opportunity is practical and immediate. \u201cWith the right tools and machinery, Ugandan SMEs can make full use of the wood from our forests to produce quality products locally. This reduces imports, creates jobs, and supports climate-smart forestry.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Sawmills to Showrooms<\/p>\n

At Kirangwa\u2019s sawmill, EU-supported diesel-powered machinery improves cutting precision, reduces waste, and lowers emissions. Depending on the season, the operation employs 150 to 250 workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach hectare holds 250\u2013300 trees at planting,\u201d Bahiigwa explains. \u201cBy managing growth in stages, we maintain a continuous supply of mature timber.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across industrial zones in Jinja and Namanve, carpenters and furniture makers are switching from imported MDF and plastics to locally grown pine and eucalyptus. \u201cWith better-quality wood nearby, we no longer rely on imported MDF or plastic alternatives,\u201d says one local carpenter.<\/p>\n

Sustainability remains central. Plantations follow SPGS standards, with controlled harvesting and conservation buffers. \u201cWe leave natural valleys, streams, and forest patches intact, combining production with conservation,\u201d says Bahiigwa, whose company holds FSC certification.<\/p>\n

Lives Changed on the Ground<\/p>\n

For smallholder tree farmers, the shift is tangible. \u201cWe used to sell logs for a few thousand shillings,\u201d says Sarah Nabirye from Buikwe. \u201cNow, with the new sawmill nearby, we earn more from sawn timber\u2014and we replant every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Women, too, are finding new opportunities along the value chain. \u201cBy empowering women to engage in value-added activities\u2014from tree planting to processing\u2014we enhance household incomes and support climate-smart initiatives like using coffee husks for clean cooking fuel,\u201d says Teopista Nakkungu, Chief Coordinator of the International Women\u2019s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) Uganda Chapter.<\/p>\n

Forests, Energy, and the Bigger Picture<\/p>\n

Uganda continues to lose an estimated 122,000 hectares of forest annually, a challenge underscored by the National Forestry Authority (NFA). \u201cSince 2001, the country has lost an estimated 1.16 million hectares of tree cover, mainly due to agricultural expansion, charcoal production, and settlement growth,\u201d says Aldon Walukamba, NFA\u2019s Communications and Public Relations Manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy law, the National Forestry Authority manages only 15 percent of Uganda\u2019s total forest cover. The remaining 70 percent lies under communities, private landowners, and local governments, which makes sustainable alternatives outside natural forests absolutely critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charcoal remains a major driver of degradation. \u201cReducing this pressure requires affordable, cleaner alternatives that can meet household and institutional energy needs,\u201d Walukamba says, noting that biomass briquettes combined with improved cookstoves can reduce household fuel costs by 20 to 30 percent while significantly lowering wood consumption.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe greatest conservation impact comes when every tree spared from cutting is matched by new trees planted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research is also expanding the circular economy. Mildred Julian Nakanwagi, a PhD student at Makerere University, hosted at NaCORI under the EU-funded ROBUST Project, points to agricultural byproducts as part of the solution.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cCertain native Robusta coffee genotypes consistently produce larger cherries with thicker husks, which means more biomass that can be repurposed for eco-friendly uses such as briquettes.\u201d \u201cIf coffee husks are harnessed for briquettes, they offer a renewable alternative to charcoal. This reduces pressure on forests that are often cut down for firewood and charcoal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing More Than Trees<\/p>\n

As Uganda aligns this work with Vision 2040 and its green growth agenda, the message from growers, policymakers, and partners is clear: the future of forestry lies not just in planting trees, but in what comes after.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not just growing trees,\u201d reflects Bahiigwa. \u201cWe are growing a timber industry that Uganda can rely on for the future. If we manage it well, this sector can be a cornerstone of climate-smart growth and economic opportunity for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of 2023, Uganda\u2019s forest cover recovered to approximately 13.4% (3.2 million hectares) of its total land area, supported by 557,000 acres (225,567 hectares) of commercial plantations\u2014divided between 335,000 acres of government-managed industrial forests and 222,000 acres of private plantations\u2014which serve as a critical, climate-smart alternative to the country\u2019s much larger but declining natural woodland cover.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union. Responsibility for the content lies solely with the author(s) and the publishing platform.<\/p>\n

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