NRU :: Browsing by Author "Turyahabwe, N."

Browsing by Author "Turyahabwe, N."

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Agro-pastoral choice of coping strategies and response to drought in the semi-arid areas of Uganda
(African Journal of Rural Development, 2017) Akwango, D.A.; Obaa, B.B.; Turyahabwe, N.; Baguma, Y.; Egeru, A.
Drought episodes have been on the increase in the semi- arid areas of Uganda with harmful effects like crop failure, and human and livestock mortality, among others. There are barely any studies that have examined why agro- pastoral communities take specific actions in coping with drought. This study examined the factors influencing the choice of coping strategies to drought and the reasons for response and nonresponse. The study was conducted in the semi-arid Karamoja sub-region of Uganda using a crosssectional household survey on 305 households. A multinomial logistic model was used to analyze the factors that determine the choice of coping strategy by households against drought events. The results indicate that coping was positively influenced by distance to the nearest water source, access to drought information and training on drought management. Livelihood support, amount of arable land owned and frequency of receiving information from Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) had a positive significant effect on response. To enhance response capabilities, there is need to improve livelihoods and frequent dissemination of information on impending drought.
Awareness, perceptions and implementation of policy and legal provisions on wetlands in Uganda
(African Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD), 2017) Turyahabwe, N.; Tumusiime, D. M.; Yikii, F.; Kakuru, W.; Barugahare, V.
Wetland degradation is currently a major global environmental challenge. In Uganda, the situation is similar despite the country’s relatively long history of wetland policy and legislation. This study was carried out after over two decades since the onset of an ambitious national wetlands programme to examine local awareness and perceptions wetlands policy and legislation. It was conducted on the basis that understanding of the opinions and attitudes of farmers and other wetland users regarding wetland policies and regulations helps managers and policy makers in making informed decisions for sustainable wetland management. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 222 randomly selected households resident within a 5 km radius of the sampled wetlands were augmented by three Focus Group Discussions and 40 key informant interviews. More than half of the respondents (64%) were aware of the national wetlands management and conservation policy, with 32% expressly suggesting that the provisions in the National Environment Act are sufficient to support sustainable use of wetlands while only 6% expressed knowledge of informal or traditional rules and regulations for use of wetlands. Regression results revealed that education and income status significantly influenced respondents awareness of the wetland policy and provisions in other formal policies and laws. Residents of both Lake Victoria Crescent and South western farm lands were significantly (p<0.05) more likely to be aware of provisions in other formal policies and laws, owing to sensitisation by conservation projects based in these localities and having operational Community-based Wetland Management Plan. Majority (77%) of respondents expressed that the policies and legal provisions on wetlands were not adequately enforced and nearly 90% of the respondents perceived a need for locally tailored by-laws and ordinances and an improvement in communication of information about wetland policy. Irrespective of improvement in awareness of the wetland policy and legislation in Uganda, enforcement is likely to remain poor due to limited livelihood options for local people as they use wetlands for food security and livelihood improvement. Local communities also claim ignorance of wetland policy, regulations and laws that they do not agree with, given the sensitivity of use and management of wetland resources. Successful conservation of wetlands will thus depend on implementation of acknowledged policy and legal provisions coupled with the crafting and creation of awareness of locally tailored policies, by- laws and ordinances on wetlands.
Devolution policy and its implication on watershed restoration in eastern Uganda
(African Journal of Rural Developement, 2017) Akello, S.; Turyahabwe, N.; Sseguya, H.; Agea, J.G.
Whereas decentralisation has received support as an institutional panacea to natural resource management, devolution is seen as an effective solution to local collective action in watershed restoration. Despite conducive institutional and policy environment in Uganda, restoration of Awoja watershed has not been successful. This paper analysed the institutional framework that supports restoration of Awoja watershed. The study was carried out in Ngora district, employing mixed methods. Content analysis results indicated weak inter-sectoral linkages between departments, absence of ordinances and by-laws on watershed restoration as partly reasons for failed restoration. Chi square analysis showed a significant relationship between restoration of vegetation cover and management decision making (P=0.000), community-government relations (P=0.000) and benefit sharing (P=0.002) in Awoja watershed. Therefore restoration efforts will not gain their full potential unless the linkages between sectors, departments, government and the community are strengthened. This framework review gives insight on how devolution can better the governance of Awoja watershed and other similar ecosystems for appropriate restoration.
Has the Evolution Process of Forestry Policies in Uganda Promoted Deforestation?
(International Forestry Review, 2015) Galabuzi, C.; Eilu, G.; Nabanoga, G. N.; Turyahabwe, N.; Mulugo, L.; Kakudidi, E.; Sibelet, N.
The dynamics in livelihood needs of people at the fringes of tropical forests have increased the stakes and management challenges of biodiversity worldwide. Since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the importance of biodiversity has been emphasized in several international agreements. However, the incentives to implement such agreements in poor countries are lacking. The present study characterised the determinants of deforestation, and forest management practices within Mabira Forest Reserve (MFR) in central Uganda. This was done within the context of the evolution of the policy and legal frameworks of Uganda. Literature on MFR as well as the policy and legal framework on forests and related resources was reviewed. The results show that evolution of the forest policy was characterised by limited input from key stakeholders. Moreover, there has been political interference and limited sharing of benefits amid failure to harmonize the forestry policy with relevant policies of related sectors. Consequently, deforestation has continued. To address this anomaly, we encourage the involvement of all key stakeholders including local people in designing management guidelines and sharing benefits from forests as an incentive for participation to promote sustainable forest growth. This is crucial for the success of forest restoration programmes in the tropics.
Household perception of climate change in wetland adjacent areas in Uganda
(Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2016) Yikii, F.; Bashaasha, B.; Turyahabwe, N.
Climate change is a major cause of food insecurity in developing countries, like Uganda where the poor people and small scale farmers have limited options for adaptation. Households adjacent to wetlands often adapt to climate change by depending on them for food security. However, interventions for climate change adaptation in developing countries are often poorly targeted due to insufficient data on climate trends. The objective of this study was to determine household perception of climate change in wetland adjacent areas, to inform climate change and adaptation policy in Uganda. The study was conducted at two sites, Lake Nakivale wetland system in Isingiro district (south-western Uganda) and Lake Kyoga basin wetland systems in Pallisa district (eastern Uganda). The study employed a cross sectional design, using a semi-structured questionnaire, and surveyed a total of 520 households. Results of the study show that a majority (92%) of the households were aware of climate change. Climate change was perceived by households in form of prolonged dry weather (54%) and hotter and drier seasons (34%). Over 90% of the respondents had noticed climate change in various forms: increased temperature (92%), decreased rainfall (95%), changes in the length of seasons (97%), more frequent droughts (93%), more severe droughts (92%) and more severe floods in Pallisa. Households perceived climate change in the form of increased temperatures and droughts, and generally had a gloomy outlook for the future, insisting that climate change will be more severe than currently experienced. More households in Isingiro district perceived climate change to be more severe in the future than expected (c2 (2) =43.67, P<0.001). Owing to the perception of more frequent and severe droughts and reduced rainfall, households around wetlands will continue to use wetlands for farming and other livelihood needs. Thus, unless wetland farmers (a) integrate wetland conservation by employing climate smart practices like minimum tillage, soil and water conservation, and (b) diversify their livelihoods through commercially viable initiatives like fish farming, household food security and sustainability of wetlands will be further jeopardized.
Local organisations and decentralised forest management in Uganda: roles, challenges and policy implications
(International Forestry Review, 2007) Turyahabwe, N.; Geldenhuys, C. J.; Watts, S.; Obua, J.
Policy and legal changes in Uganda have partly devolved forest management from the central to local governments and local community organisations. This paper analyses the roles, responsibilities, powers, legal instruments and incentives for local organisations that are implementing decentralised forest governance in Uganda. Semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews of 236 respondents revealed that local organisations promoted decentralised forestry functions such as forest monitoring, making of forest byelaws, tree planting, environmental education, collaborative and integrated planning and budgeting. Donor and central government fiscal support, awareness of forest degradation, understanding the role of forestry and the desire to conserve forests motivated local organisations to participate in decentralised forest management. Lack of a clear policy on ownership and control of private forest resources, inadequate fiscal support from national government, inequitable distribution of benefits and inadequate delegation of decision-making powers over forest management to local actors have hindered full implementation of decentralised forest management. The central government should empower local government authorities and support organisations to effectively implement decentralised forest management in Uganda.
An Overview Of History And Development Of Forest Policy And Legislation In Uganda
(International Forestry Review, 2008) Turyahabwe, N.; Banana, A.Y.
This paper examines the evolution of forest policy and legislation in Uganda from the colonial times to the present day and its impact and outcomes on the forest sector and livelihoods of local communities. It highlights a trend from highly regulatory colonial forest service (1898-1961) characterised by a centrally controlled and industry biased forest policy with limited local stakeholder participation; followed by the post independence era (1962-1971) that maintained the forest estate in a reasonably good condition through the process of command and control; through a non-directional phase characterised by disruption of economy, insecurity and impaired delivery of goods and services (1972-1986); to a more decentralised, participatory and people oriented approach that has typified the focus of the policy over the last two decades (1987-todate). It also presents the roles that different stakeholders have played in formulating the policy and legislation and analysis of issues pertinent to forest policy and legislation in Uganda, especially those that relate to decentralisation, divestment and participatory forest management. The forest policies were not translated adequately into operational tactics, strategies and programmes at the local and national levels. Despite reforms in the forest sector, new institutions created are not yet in position to effectively enforce forest rules and regulations on forest resource use, particularly private forests. We conclude that a forest policy without effective monitoring and enforcement of rules and regulations cannot maintain the forest estate in a good condition. There is a need for government to operationalise, monitor and evaluate existing forest policies rather than formulate new policies and laws.
Technical and institutional capacity in local organisations to manage decentralised forest resources in Uganda
(Southern African Forestry Journal, 2006) Turyahabwe, N.; Geldenhuys, C.J.; Watts, S.; Banana, A.Y.
Uganda is one of the sub-Saharan African countries that has devolved the management of forest resources. Meaningful devolution, however, requires that local governments and other community organisations should have capacity in terms of adequate and competent human resources, finance, information, skills, and the appropriate legal framework to effectively deliver services. This paper examines the technical and institutional capacity in selected local organisations to manage decentralised forest resources in Uganda. We found that technical and institutional capacity to implement decentralised forest governance exists in local organisations through partnerships with other actors in the productive use of the available resources. Local organisations mobilised and managed human, physical and financial resources for decentralised forest management. They also demonstrated the capacity to make and implement integrated plans and budgets and formulated byelaws regulating forest use. Our findings, however, revealed that none of the organisations had either the legal mandate or sufficient human and physical resources to govern forest resources unilaterally due to inadequate devolution of decision-making powers and inadequate fiscal support from the central government. The findings suggest a need for local organisations to recruit more technical staff, strengthen internal sources of revenue and networking amongst organisations both at local and national government levels for effective management of decentralised forest resources.
Traditional Knowledge on Tree Management and Forest Restoration of Mabira Central Reserve, Uganda
(2nd World Agroforestry Congress, 2009) Mulugo, L.W.; Nabanoga, G.N.; Turyahabwe, N.; Eilu, G.; Galabuzi, C.; Tabuti, J.R.S; Kakudidi, E.; Sibelet, N.
Tropical forest degradation and loss has escalated worldwide and Mabira forest is not exceptional ( Figure 1). Efforts are needed to reverse this situation by combining traditional forest management with new innovative approaches. This study was undertaken to identify appropriate forest restoration measures based on traditional forest restoration and tree management practices of local people around Mabira Forest Reserve (MFR).

Browsing by Author "Turyahabwe, N."

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