Photo: NANTUMBWEJ · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest

A little-known forest reserve being brought back by the communities around it.

About

Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve in Rubirizi District is one of the forest blocks linking Queen Elizabeth National Park to the wider western landscape. Heavily encroached for years, it is now the subject of an unusual community-led recovery — parish conservation groups, tree nurseries and fuel-efficient stoves — that has begun to turn the reserve around. Chimpanzees, crater lakes and birding trails sit within it.

Highlights

Community-led forest recovery
Chimpanzees and forest birding
Crater lakes within the reserve
Near Queen Elizabeth National Park

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Kyambura Gorge Lodge

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Lights of kazinga homestay

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Pumba Safari Cottages

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Songbird Safari Lodge

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Stories from Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest

Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest

Locals Bring Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Back to Life

Communities living near Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve have been praised for their role in restoring and protecting the once-degraded forest. The forest, which stretches across five districts — Buhweju, Rubirizi, Bushenyi, Ibanda, and Kamwenge — covers about 433 square kilometres. Local communities in these districts are leading a remarkable revival of the natural forest in western Uganda. Although not the largest in the region, Kasyoha-Kitomi plays a key role in sustaining biodiversity, regulating rainfall, and supporting local livelihoods. Their efforts, supported by Nature Uganda and the National Forestry Authority (NFA), have helped restore degraded areas and improve the forest's ecological health.

Torch Media Africa · 19 Sept 2026 · 3 min read