In response to the growing crisis, Hope for Nature has launched a restoration programme aimed at rehabilitating degraded forests and protecting threatened indigenous tree species.
By Henry Nsubuga
For generations, the waters of Lake Victoria sustained thousands of families living on the islands of Koome Sub-county in Mukono District. Fishing was not only the primary source of income but also the backbone of the local economy.
Today, however, many fishermen return to shore with increasingly smaller catches as fish stocks continue to decline, largely due to overfishing and illegal fishing practices.
From a Fisheries Crisis to an Environmental Emergency
What began as a crisis on the lake has now evolved into an environmental crisis on land, with Koome Islands’ indigenous forests bearing the brunt.
As fishing incomes dwindled, many households turned to alternative sources of livelihood, including charcoal burning, timber harvesting, firewood collection and clearing forests for agriculture, accelerating deforestation across the islands.
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According to Isaac Kitongo, a teacher in Koome and former area male councilor in Mukono district council, the effects are already being felt.
“Although the islands once experienced reliable rainfall throughout the year, we are now increasingly experiencing prolonged dry spells because many of the forests have been cleared,” he said.
Fishing Restrictions Push Residents to Seek Alternatives
Environmental experts say the decline in fisheries triggered a chain reaction that placed enormous pressure on Koome’s fragile ecosystem.
Obed Nsubuga, Programmes Manager at Hope for Nature, a non-governmental organisation restoring indigenous tree species on the islands, says the loss of fish stocks pushed many residents towards exploiting forest resources to survive.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
“As fishing activities declined due to overfishing and illegal fishing practices, many people turned to timber harvesting, charcoal production and forest clearing for agriculture as alternative sources of livelihood,” Nsubuga explained.
According to Mukono District Forest Officer Kenneth Wodea, the situation worsened in 2011 when the government established the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit to curb illegal fishing activities.
The enforcement measures, he said, forced many fishermen who solely depended on the lake to seek alternative sources of income, given the stringent penalties imposed on those found engaging in illegal fishing activities.
Besides the destruction of illegal fishing gear and the confiscation of immature fish catches, suspects were reportedly subjected to harsh punishments, including severe caning, the closure of some landing sites and imprisonment.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
Several fishermen were reported to have lost their lives as a result, while others sustained permanent disabilities allegedly linked to the harsh treatment. These developments, he said, pushed many affected communities to abandon fishing and turn to other economic activities on land.
“They cleared hectares of forests for timber harvesting, charcoal burning, firewood collection and rice cultivation. The situation intensified to the extent that what were once thick natural forests have now been replaced by coffee, maize, rice and banana plantations, among other agricultural activities,” Wodea said.
He added that some individuals have also replaced indigenous tree species with fast-growing commercial trees, further threatening biodiversity.
Indigenous Trees Under Threat
For decades, Koome’s forests have provided communities with food, medicine, fuel, construction materials and critical ecological services. However, years of unchecked tree cutting, agricultural expansion and settlement development have left vast sections of the islands severely degraded.
Among the species most affected are African mahogany, Prunus africana, Afzelia africana, Guarea cedrata and Uvariodendron magnificum — rare indigenous trees valued for their ecological, medicinal and economic importance.
Conservationists warn that without urgent intervention, some of these species could disappear from the islands altogether.
Wodea says indigenous tree species are vital for supporting biodiversity, improving soil fertility, regulating local climate conditions and providing habitats for wildlife.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
Communities Lead Forest Restoration Efforts
In response to the growing crisis, Hope for Nature has launched a restoration programme aimed at rehabilitating degraded forests and protecting threatened indigenous tree species.
The initiative involves collecting seeds from healthy mother trees, raising seedlings in community nurseries and distributing them to farmers and local groups for planting across the islands.
One of the beneficiaries is Geoffrey Sserwadda, a fisherman and farmer from Lubembe Village.
Having witnessed both declining fish stocks and forests loss, Sserwadda is now helping to restore areas that were previously cleared for charcoal production and rice cultivation.
“I want to plant thousands of trees and help bring back the forests that once covered these islands,” he said.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
Having once relied entirely on fishing for his livelihood, Sserwadda has diversified into mixed farming, planting indigenous tree species alongside food and cash crops as part of efforts to restore the islands’ degraded environment.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The restoration effort is also inspiring younger generations.
Peter Byakatonda, a 10-year-old Primary Five pupil at Lubembe Primary School, has joined his father in planting indigenous and endangered tree species.
According to Byakatonda, trees provide habitats for wildlife, support rainfall formation, prevent soil erosion and play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Across Koome, farmers, women’s groups, youth associations, schools and local leaders are increasingly embracing conservation initiatives.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
Irene Mutesi, a leader of a community women’s group, says members are actively involved in planting indigenous trees, protecting restoration sites and promoting sustainable land-use practices.
New Livelihoods Offer Hope
Environmentalists say the benefits of restoring forests extend far beyond biodiversity conservation.
Healthy forests improve water quality, stabilise soils, reduce erosion and absorb carbon dioxide, helping communities adapt to climate change. They also create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry, beekeeping and eco-tourism.
Emmanuel Musinguzi, a resident of Buwe Village and a beekeeper, says many communities have embraced the practice because fishing is no longer a reliable source of income.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
“The lake that once sustained us can no longer support everyone. We have had to find other ways of earning a living,” he said.
Several restoration sites are already showing encouraging signs of recovery. Young forests are gradually transforming previously degraded landscapes, raising hopes that Koome’s natural heritage can be rebuilt.
Wodea says the district plans to procure 10 million tree seedlings, including fruit and indigenous tree species, for free distribution to various sub-counties, including Koome.
Challenges Remain Despite Progress
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Limited funding, high transportation costs associated with moving seedlings across the islands and continued illegal tree cutting threaten to reverse the gains made so far.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
Nevertheless, conservationists remain optimistic.
For Koome residents, restoring forests is about more than planting trees. It is about repairing the environmental damage caused by years of economic hardship, rebuilding livelihoods and ensuring that future generations inherit both healthy forests and productive waters.
In Koome, the story of empty nets has become the story of vanishing forests. But through restoration efforts now taking root across the islands, communities are working to ensure that both can recover together.
(Photo by Henry Nsubuga)
