| Summary: | Thesis (PhD (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. === This study aims at examining technical and institutional capacity in local organisations to
manage decentralised forest resources in Uganda. Specifically the study assessed the roles,
responsibilities, powers and legal instruments, incentives, facilities and human and fiscal
resources of local organisations to undertake decentralised forest governance. Semistructured
and key informant interviews were conducted in local organisations and legal and
policy documents reviewed to ascertain strategies for implementing decentralised forestry.
An inventory of selected forests was conducted to assess effect of decentralisation policy on
the condition of forests in Uganda. Chi-square tests were used to show the factors that
motivate local organisations to participate in decentralised forest governance. Tree species
diversity and richness, density, diameter at breast height and basal area and sings of human
disturbance were used to compare the condition of forests under local government and those
under private and central government ownership. Similarity between the forests was assessed
using a Two Way INdicator SPecies Analysis, while the differences in the composition and
structural characteristics of trees among forest ownership categories were compared by oneway
analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the influence of
household pressure, forest size, the distance of the forest from roads and forest administrative
office, and the market demand of the forest produce on the capacity of forest agencies to
regulate timber harvesting. The findings reveals that local organisations supported devolved
forest management functions such as forest monitoring, tree planting, environmental
education, networking, collaborative and integrated planning, resource mobilisation and
formulation of byelaws. The role of forestry in the livelihoods of the people, the desire to
control forest degradation and access to forest revenue, donor and central government fiscal
support were the most important incentives in decentralised forest management. However,
limited capacity in terms of qualified staff, funds, facilities and equipment and inadequate
decision-making powers over fiscal resources from forestry, inequitable distribution of forest
revenue and unclear forest and tree tenure hindered decentralised forest management. The
diversity and richness indices, density, diameter at breast height and basal area of trees were
significantly higher in central forest reserves, intermediate in private and lower in local forest
reserves. The frequency of human disturbances was significantly higher in local forest
reserves than in private and central forest reserves. The variation in composition and structure
of the local forest reserves is partly attributed to human disturbances. The capacity of the
forest agencies to regulate forest resources use in the Mpigi forests was significantly affected
by the size of forest, and its location in relation to the well-maintained roads, forest
administrative office and the number of households in close proximity and the market demand
of the forest produce. Large forests in close proximity to densely populated areas and far a
way from roads and the forest administrative office were more affected by timber harvesting.
The results demonstrated that local governments are not yet efficient in monitoring and
regulating forest use and maintaining the condition of forests in Uganda. Local organisations
need to play an increased role in the implementation of the Forest Policy, the National
Forestry and Tree Planting and the Local Government Acts for successful decentralisation of
forest management and to recruit more technical staff, strengthen internal sources of revenue
and develop integrated forestry work plans. There is also a need for the central government to
integrate and co-ordinate local and central interests, and facilitate a working relationship with
local governments, civil society and the private sector involved in forestry. Forest owners and
managers in the Mpigi forests and Ugandaâ s tropical forests in general need to manage human
impacts so as to balance utilisation and conservation forest resources. There is need for longterm
studies to fully understand the real significance of ownership on the composition and
structure of the Mpigi forests and forests in other districts of Uganda.
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