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Uganda is attracting growing investment in sectors such as mega-mining projects, infrastructure, forestry, agribusiness, and other large-scale land-based projects. These investments are often presented as opportunities for economic development, solutions to the energy transition, employment, and improved livelihoods. Across Uganda, communities have faced disputes and, in some cases, displacement linked to land-based investments. But for many communities, they also raise questions about what happens when the land needed for investment is the same land that communities depend on for their homes, food and livelihoods Women often experience some of the greatest impacts because they depend on land for agriculture, food production, and household livelihoods. Today in our programme, we bring together women from Bugweri and Bulisa whose communities have experienced the impacts of different land-based investments. They will share their experiences, tell us how these investments have affected their lives, and, importantly, explain how they are coming together to defend their land and demand respect for their rights.
Experiences of Women affected by Land based investments
Restoring land, Restoring hope Voices from UNCCD COP17
What happens when a seed variety that has fed families for generations disappears? Don’t miss the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference 2026 from 17-20th November in CUEA, Nairobi – Kenya.
What happens when a seed variety that has fed families for generations disappears?
In Eastern Africa, millions of smallholder farmers continue to save, share and replant seed from one season to another. But alongside these traditional seed systems, a formal seed industry is also expanding, bringing together commercial breeders, seed companies, researchers and regulators. These two systems are now at the center of a regional policy debate as the East African Community works on a common law to regulate seeds and plant varieties across the region. As lawmakers consult stakeholders on the proposed law, civil society organizations are raising questions about whose voices are being heard and whose interests the new law will protect. So, what did civil society representatives tell lawmakers during the consultations? What changes are they pushing for, and what concerns do they have about the bill in its current form? In special program today, we speak to civil society representatives who took part in the consultations to hear their views, the issues they raised and what they want changed before the proposed law is adopted.
CSO Perspectives on the EAC Seed and Plant Varieties Bill Public Hearing Outcomes
As many countries accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Uganda has continued to invest in oil and gas development following the discovery of commercially viable petroleum reserves. However, it is on record that Human activities have heavily reduced Uganda's wetland cover from 15.6% in 1994 to roughly 8.9% due to major drivers like agriculture, industrial and urban waste dumping, and brick-making, which destroy natural water filtration, reduce biodiversity, and worsen local flooding and droughts. As the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project reaches completion, researchers under the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) released a brief titled “Siltation, noisy generators and air pollution: Documenting oil sector damage to Murchison Falls National Park and Uganda’s wetlands.” The brief documents the impacts that the EACOP project construction activities under Uganda’s Tilenga and Kingfisher upstream projects have had on selected wetlands. In our programme today, we host Ms. Diana Nabiruma, the programmes and communication manager from AFIEGO, to discuss and throw more light on the brief highlighting the impacts of EACOP construction activities on biodiversity and fisheries, supporting multi-million wetlands in the country.
Impacts of EACOP construction activities on wetlands and bio diversity in Uganda
As many countries observe the global transition to clean, renewable energy, Uganda noted a major turning point during the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5th 2026. National celebrations transpired in the West Nile region in Adjumani District under the theme “Climate action begins with you; Act now,’’ the urgent need to transition from traditional biomass to clean energy is one of the most anticipated strategies from the Ministry of Energy to limit the use of fossil fuel resources and products. 70% of households in Uganda are currently relying on biomass (firewood and charcoal); deforestation initiatives like off-grid solar and biodigesters are being rolled out nationwide. The government’s long-term strategy, backed by a $638 million financing facility to boost both on-grid and off-grid renewable access, aims at carbon neutrality by 2050 This is all intended to inspire action on commitments safeguarding nature, combating climate change, and securing a future in which environmental laws are enacted and followed. In today’s programme, we speak to Mr. Hamba Richard, a researcher and member of the Ecosystems-Based Adaptation Food Assembly, and a representative from Teens Uganda and a policy educator on energy policy, as he discusses Uganda’s state of preparedness amidst the renewable energy transition journey. Stay tuned for more.
Uganda's state of preparedness amidst the global renewable energy transition journey
The current global war conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East war between the USA and Iran have reshaped food production, causing a rise in energy costs, threats to trade routes, and farmer disruptions. This has exposed the fragile situation of the global food systems and also caused a widespread vulnerability of people to hunger. On The Farm programme today, we are privileged to host and speak to Dr. Joseph W Glauber, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), as he discusses the extent to which the current global conflicts have reshaped Food security worldwide. Dr. Glauber sheds more light on global fertilizer markets and food production, the rise in agricultural inputs, and the current rise in oil prices. He also gives an insightful picture of the future of agriculture in Africa and beyond in relation to the new global developments and changes caused by emerging conflicts. Keep on watching for more discoveries and recommendations on curbing the global food insecurity crisis.
Impacts of Global shocks on food security. An interview with Dr Joseph Glauber
Billions of dollars are being channelled into the energy transition projects as governments are pushing to transit from bad energy to clean energy and this has reshaped economic and social operations of different societies and countries. The concern for community participation is still debatable as most of them are ignored in decision making processes. In Philippines, the Tumandok people have suffered many reprisals following the construction of the Jalaur river dam project. They have suffered arrests; killings and a number of over 17,000 people are likely to be displaced by the multibillion project funded by the Korean Export-Import Bank. In this programme we speak to Jonhn Ian Alenciaga, a human rights defender and advocate for the Jalaur River People's Movement (JRPM), an advocacy network of various organizations including indigenous people, church leaders, various denominations, lawyers and other environmental human rights defenders. John and others are mobilizing the Tumandok people to defend their land. In this interview, he shares his experience in defending the Tumandok people against violation of their rights and demanding for justice. Alenciaga also calls upon governments and corporations to ensure that the principle of free, prior and informed consent is respected before the projects are established in community lands.
Human Rights Defender John Ian Alenciaga shares his experience in defending the Tumandok people
As governments across the African continent rush towards a clean renewable transition, Experts have highlighted possible pathways towards having a just and fair transition process. This discussion happened during the East and Horn of Africa Business and human rights dialogue organized by the Dan Church Aid and its partners in Nairobi, Kenya. They discussed about the escalating climate crisis which has engineered the global transition. They expressed hope in a possible drastic reduction of gas emissions after replacement of carbon intensive fossil fuels with clean, naturally replenished sources like solar, wind and hydro- power. Despite the move, experts also talked about the increasing human rights violations associated with energy transition projects. In our programme today, here on Witness Radio, we bring you a rebroadcast of the Experts, Andrew Byaruhanga, (Executive Director resource rights Africa), Eric Baeni (Coordinator for Pan African Youth Alliance on Business and Human Rights), Mahlet Merid Afeesa, (Senior gender expert from Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporter’s Association), Florence Shako (Executive Director Centre for Education Policy and Climate Justice) and Enid Muchiri Sales engineer (Business Development) East Africa, Danfoss, as they advocate for inclusivity of communities, having them participate in the decision-making processes amidst the transition. They profoundly express the human rights awareness strategies and highlight instances where these rights have been violated. The experts also draw attention to the role of the youth and technological business sectors in their participation towards the just transition process. The experts recommend the use of traditional systems and mediation programme as dispute resolution strategies helping community group inclusivity. Stay tuned for more….
Experts discussion on the pathways to a Just Energy Transition across Africa
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