Forestry stakeholders in Kanungu District have formed a district-wide cooperative aimed at improving market access, promoting sustainable forest management and increasing incomes for people involved in the forestry value chain.
The Kanungu Forestry Cooperative Society Limited brings together tree nursery operators, commercial tree growers, timber dealers, carpenters and charcoal producers under one umbrella body to address challenges affecting the sector, including fragmented pricing, limited market access and unsustainable forestry practices.
The initiative follows a week-long mobilisation campaign launched on September 28, 2026, by the district’s Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with the departments of Commercial Services, Trade and Industry, and Production and Marketing.
The campaign covered all 27 lower local governments in the district, with participants organised into five operational clusters before being brought together to establish the cooperative.
District Commercial Officer Caleb Muhanuuzi Owomihangyi said the cooperative would provide a formal structure through which forestry stakeholders can access technical support, regulatory guidance, financial services and market opportunities.
He said the district had mobilised stakeholders to participate in sustainable forestry management, adding that the cooperative would serve as a platform for introducing innovations and coordinating future interventions in the sector.
District Forestry Officer Benson Muriisa said bringing the different players together would strengthen their bargaining power and enable them to advocate for fair prices, better policy support and responsible management of forest resources.
The district has also announced plans to support tree nursery operators to diversify their stock with species that offer economic benefits while protecting the environment.
The priority species include bamboo, Grevillea, eucalyptus and indigenous trees.
Bamboo, in particular, is expected to provide an additional income opportunity for growers while helping stabilise riverbanks and steep slopes vulnerable to soil erosion.
District Natural Resources Officer Confidence Twinamatsiko urged departmental heads and local leaders to integrate environmental conservation into local economic development programmes.
The initiative is being supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Uganda, which is expected to help the cooperative address market challenges and establish reliable outlets for timber and non-timber forest products.
Biryahwaho Byaruhanga, WWF’s Forests and Markets Transformation Manager at its Kampala office, said long-term environmental sustainability was central to the cooperative’s objectives.
He reaffirmed WWF’s commitment to helping members identify and access high-value markets for their products.
The mobilisation exercise concluded with a meeting at All Saints Multipurpose Hall in Kanungu Town Council, where cluster representatives, local leaders and technical staff discussed the cooperative’s governance and operational framework.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Kanungu, Emmy Magezi Byarugaba, who presided over the meeting, urged members to embrace transparency, accountability and integrity in managing the new organisation.
He also cautioned residents against borrowing from illegal, unregistered money lenders who exploit borrowers, encouraging them instead to join registered associations and cooperatives.
Magezi further warned against indiscriminate tree cutting without replanting, stressing the need to balance economic activities with environmental protection.
To establish the cooperative’s financial and administrative foundation, members agreed to pay a one-time share capital contribution of Shs20,000 and a membership fee of Shs10,000.
They also resolved to hold a general assembly every six months, with each member contributing Shs10,000 per meeting towards expanding the cooperative’s loanable funds.
An interim five-member executive committee and a three-member vetting committee were constituted to oversee registration and ensure compliance with the cooperative’s bylaws.
In a statement, Kanungu District Local Government Communications Officer Twongyeirwe Mwajuma Twaha Adams said the formation of the cooperative marked a step towards coordinated forestry management and economic empowerment.
She said bringing the five operational clusters under one management structure was expected to strengthen collaboration among forestry stakeholders while promoting sustainable use of natural resources across the district.
