Kabale University Signs MoU with National Forestry Authority to Establish Field Research Station at Echuya Forest Reserve

A major milestone in environmental research and conservation has been achieved following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kabale University and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to establish a Field Research Station at Echuya Forest Reserve in Rubanda District.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at Rwaburindi Village, Ikamiro Parish in Muko Sub-county, within the Echuya Forest Reserve, bringing together officials from the two institutions, district leaders and members of the local community.

The ceremony was attended by a university delegation led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga, the Executive Director of the National Forestry Authority, Mr. Stuart Maniraguha and Rubanda District leaders led by Vice Chairperson Prossy Akampurira Kesafari, alongside residents from the surrounding communities.

Under the agreement, the National Forestry Authority has allocated approximately 2.1 hectares of land within Echuya Forest Reserve to support the establishment of the research station. The facility will serve as a hub for scientific research, environmental monitoring and practical training for students and researchers in fields related to forestry, biodiversity conservation, environmental studies, and tourism management.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga emphasized that the research station will strengthen opportunities for experiential learning by enabling students and academic staff to conduct field-based studies within one of Uganda’s important forest ecosystems.

She noted that the facility will support research in areas such as forest ecology, biodiversity conservation, tourism planning and management and the socio-economic impacts of protected areas. The initiative is also expected to contribute to the identification, protection and conservation of rare, threatened and endangered species of plants and animals found within the forest.

Prof. Kwesiga added that the research station will provide an opportunity for students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical field environments, thereby strengthening the quality of academic training in disciplines related to environmental and natural resource management.

Representing the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Associate Dean Dr. Rodgers Akatwijuka explained that research activities at the station will cover key areas including forest ecology, watershed management, ecosystem dynamics, tourism planning, conservation of endangered species and the study of medicinal plants with scientific and economic value.

He noted that the facility will also facilitate interdisciplinary research and training while supporting the generation of knowledge that can inform environmental conservation and sustainable resource management.

In his remarks, NFA Executive Director Stuart Maniraguha highlighted that the collaboration between the two institutions began in 2024, when the university approached the National Forestry Authority seeking a formal partnership and land to establish a research station and botanical garden within Echuya Forest.

Following consultations, a joint technical team from NFA and the university conducted a field assessment which confirmed the availability of suitable land for the project. The proposal was subsequently reviewed and approved by the NFA Board of Trustees, paving the way for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Maniraguha further noted that the National Forestry Authority, working together with the Ministry of Water and Environment, will continue to guide and support the university throughout the implementation of the project.

Several key activities are expected to follow the signing of the MoU, including the development of a site layout plan, approval of architectural designs, undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and the eventual construction of the research station.

Once completed, the facility will host research programmes, training sessions and academic field studies while also supporting the dissemination of research findings that contribute to environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Local leaders and community members welcomed the partnership, noting that the research station will play an important role in strengthening environmental education, advancing scientific research and promoting conservation efforts in the Kigezi sub-region and across Uganda.

The initiative is expected to nurture a new generation of conservation-minded scholars and practitioners while contributing to the long-term protection and sustainable management of Uganda’s forest ecosystems.

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