Every 5 Acres project at Bugoma Forest Reserve
Every 5 Acres project was established with the aim of buying private land to create a buffer zone for the forest and rehabilitate it to increase habitats for the chimpanzees and other primates. Every 5 Acres begun in 2020 with the idea of buying small pieces of land (starting with 5 acres) and turning them back into natural forest.
It includes purchasing degraded/private farmland close to Bugoma then replant it with indigenous trees hence creating an initial forest buffer zone connected to Bugoma found in Kikuube District. It is done on the eastern edge of Bugoma Forest Reserve close to Bugoma Jungle Lodge.
The project Every 5 Acres in details
Area of the project
An area of 100 acres was identified and owned by farmers situated in Kimbugo Parish, Kabwoya sub county, Buhaguzi County, Kikuube District in the Eastern side of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve and close to Bugoma Jungle Lodge. This land is a highly sensitive area of buffer zone and was a wildlife migratory corridor for bush elephants where chimpanzees and Uganda mangabeys build nests. These although are affected by deforestation in initial years.
Therefore, the project has a direct impact on restoring and conserving the habitat for the endangered species of chimpanzees which is connected to Bugoma Forest reserve following the varying boundaries.
Land use under the project
The project Every 5 Acres includes planting indigenous tree species, natural regeneration of forest cover by proximity to the natural forest and other conservation activities so as to re-generate a permanent forest as a private forest reserve.
The local residents are allowed to use the land for communal purposes like collection of fire wood, cleaning activities, collection of medicinal herbs and other sustainable activities which do not interfere with the conservation of the forest and its wildlife as well as eco-tourism.
How does the Every 5 Acres Project Work?
Every piece of land is privately bought by the Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF) from local farmers as a Lease Hold or Free Hold.
Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF) buys the land, provides the management of the tree planting and maintenance in all the areas of the project. The Association proceeds to monitor the growing of the trees as well as provide further information on carbon sequestration by the project.
Every acre of acquired land will require about 800 tree seedlings that have to be planted and maintained over the years. The association offers the maintenance work sourcing from people in the local area. The work consists of tagging and measuring the trees, recording them and provide updates on their growth.
In 2023, about 1,260 trees were planted.
Every 5 Acres and Eco-Tourism
Tourists visiting Bugoma Forest Reserve and Bugoma Jungle Lodge can proceed to see the Every 5 Acres area under reforestation and to “plant a tree” as a symbolic initiative of participation in the reforestation. The trees to be planted are provided by the project free of charge for the tourists.
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.