Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST)
The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) is implementing the Corridor Restoration Programme (CRP) in the Bugoma-Wambabya-Bujawe landscape, using on restoring wildlife corridors, improving community livelihoods and securing land tenure to link Bugoma Forest with Budongo Forest.
Major efforts include reforesting 600 hectares (ha) of critical habitat with 240,000 trees using an incentivized payment for environmental services (PES) model to protect chimpanzee habitats.
Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) Project at Bugoma Forest enhances protection and restoration of ecosystems around the Reserve.
Main Objectives of the Project
- Conserving biodiversity
- Supporting local communities
- Using financial incentives to promote sustainable land use
- Restore forest connectivity between Bugoma and Budongo forests
- Protect wildlife movement (especially chimpanzees)
- Improve climate resilience and livelihoods
3. Key Activities in Bugoma Area
a) Reforestation and Habitat Restoration
Planting hundreds of thousands of indigenous trees
Restoring degraded land (about 1,800+ hectares)
Rebuilding forest patches that act as wildlife corridors
b) Protecting Chimpanzee Habitat
Restoring key routes used by eastern chimpanzees
Securing land for conservation (e.g., 124 hectares of corridor land)
Ensuring safe movement between forest blocks
c) Community-Based Conservation
Working with local farmers and landowners
Promoting agroforestry (growing trees alongside crops)
Supporting collaborative forest management (CFM)
About Bugoma Forest
Bugoma Forest is a 41,144-hectare tropical forest in Western Uganda (Hoima/Kikuube districts) managed by the National Forestry Authority. It was founded in 1932 protecting over 600 chimpanzees, 34 mammal species, and 260+ bird species.
Bugoma Forest includes a medium altitude with and it is largely a semi-deciduous forest with iron wood also referred to the Muhimbi. In the forest are 4 small rivers that drain the vegetation and these include; River Sonso, River Rubwa, Wake and Waisoke. These rivers flow and empty their water into Lake Albert.
Bugoma Forest is a medium-altitude, moist, semi-deciduous tropical forest shaped by moderate rainfall (about 1,200–1,800 mm annually) and elevations between 990 and 1,300 meters. The vegetation of Bugoma is highly diverse with over 220–260 species of trees and shrubs making it one of the richest forests in the region in terms of plant composition. The forest is semi-deciduous in nature i.e some trees shed leaves during dry periods, others remain evergreen creating seasonal variations in the canopy cover.
The forest is typical of tropical moist forests that experience alternating wet and dry seasons. The vegetation is of stratified structure into layers i.e the Emergent layer with Trees that exceed 40 meters and these include; large hardwood species like mahogany, canopy layer (20–30 m) with dominant tree species that control light penetration, Understorey layer with smaller trees and shrubs that adapt to low light, Forest floor which include; Herbs, ferns, seedlings, decomposing organic matter.
From Hoima city, Bugoma Forest is 70kms away and it requires you to drive to the forest reserve from Kampala through Hoima-Fort Portal route and branch off to Kabwoya sub-country then finally Bugoma Forest passing through Kasindi Forest Station.
Getting to Bugoma Forest by Road
Main route from Kampala
Kampala – Hoima (via Kampala–Hoima highway)
Hoima – Kabwoya Sub-county
Getting to Bugoma Forest by Air
Air travel is possible to Bugoma Forest as you get domestic flights which depart from Entebbe International Airport/ Kajjansi Airfield to fly to Hoima Airstrip for about 1 hour to Bugoma Forest.
Tracking is the most prominent safari activity carried out in the park with two communities that have been habituated for trekking by all travelers. This is an alternative to Kibale Forest National Park. The trekking procedure here offers a quieter, less crowded adventure experience.
There are over 500-600 chimpanzees in the forest and these are trekked as you get to be briefed on conduct around the chimpanzees, rules and regulations around the chimpanzees
then later you shall trek the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours.
En-route, you watch other primates like the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda mangabeys. After you shall meet the chimpanzees and stay in their presence taking photos in an hour to keep.
To participate, visitors must obtain a chimpanzee tracking permit which costs US $80 per person interested and this includes; Guided nature walk trek with the chimpanzees.
Best Time to Visit
Dry Seasons in the months of June – August and December – February.
Wet Seasons
In the months of March – May and September – November.