This key note address was prepared and presented to initiate discussions during a two (2) day Multi stakeholder platform (MSP) that took place from the 17th to 18th of December 2019 at Golden Peace Hotel in Gulu town. It was organized by SNV-Uganda as one of the outputs under the CRAFT project. The project implementation is led by SNV in partnership with Wageningen University and Research, Department of Environment and Research (WEnR), CGIAR’s Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), AgriTerra and Rabo partnerships. The Climate resilient Agribusiness for tomorrow (CRAFT) project is a 5-year project that operates in in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Further information about the project is vailable at: https://snv.org/project/climate-resilient-agribusiness-tomorrow-craft The objectives of the meeting were: a. Understand the reason behind persistent bush burning and occasional shifting cultivation as a method of land clearing in Sesame production b. Reflection on bush burning as a practice; and its effects on the biophysical and chemical environment. c. Discuss possible remedial actions to curb the vice and agree on actionable points to prevent the use of bush burning as a method of land clearing. d. Institute a working committee to take lead in implementing; and overseeing the implementation of strategy against the practice

1. Theme: Curbing bush burning - A quick win to resilient and sustainable sesame
production.
A Key note address.
Prepared and presented By Dr. Joshua Zake (Ph.D.), Executive Director, Environmental Alert (EA) during the Sesame
Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP), Organized by SNV-Uganda & Partners - held at Golden Peace Hotel; Plot 01,
Lakana Odongkara Road; Kirombe in Gulu town.
An Initiative of the CRAFT Project.
Email: ed@envalert.org or joszake@gmail.com
P. O. Box 11259 Kampala, Uganda, Tel: 0414510215; +256773057488
Website: http://www.envalert.org

2. Outline of the presentation
A) Introduction (background and context);
-objectives of the meeting; -key definition of terms and concepts
B) Why bush burning is practiced?
C) To what extent has this poor agricultural practice been practiced, the magnitude of the practice in Uganda and Northern Uganda
specifically?
D) The negative impacts of this practice especially to the overall agricultural productivity and biodiversity, possibly loss of potential
pollinators…
E) What are the best alternatives to this poor practice for small holder farmers?... and other good best practice cases else where
F) Possible actions to stop the practice and which institutions at Local Government level should lead and coordinate
G) Concluding remarks
H) About Environmental Alert

3. A) Introduction (background and context)
Globally, world fires are common and usually occur during the dry seasons. Studies show that biomass burning has
increased on the global scale over the last 100 years.
In Africa, the Savannahs experience the most extensive burning. Biomass burning is associated with the release of
airborne particles (i.e. aerosols) and gases (i.e. carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides) into the atmosphere
many, which have an impact on climate and human health. Hence, severe uncontrolled bush fires turn forests,
farmland/agricultural landscape from carbon sink into atmospheric carbon sources.
Any additional carbon dioxide could further warm the climate and exacerbate the fire problem. Some of these gases
when exposed to the sunshine react chemically creating ground level ozone – that is a harmful air pollutant which can
lead to respiratory illnesses and allergies. Fires contribute as much as 35% of the ground level ozone formation in Africa.

4. B) Why bush burning is practiced?
Various reasons are given by communities about the biomass burning. These include:
a. Hunting edible rats, mud fish;
b. Cultural inclination that bush burners derive happiness when set forests and bushes a blaze;
c. Careless smokers who through burning cigarettes in the forest and bush;
d. Bush burning makes land clearing and opening for agricultural expansion a simple task. But its very wasteful and
destructive!
e. Cattle keepers light bush fires to get rid of old grass to allow young grass to grow.
f. Some of the national laws on bush burning are outdated and hence not progressive in curbing the practice. For
instance, Prohibition of Burning of Grass Act. Decree 5/1974.
Penalty is five hundred shillings or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or both.
g. Weak implementation of bush burning bylaws and ordinances where they exist.

5. C) To what extent has this poor agricultural practice been
practiced, the magnitude of the practice in Uganda and Northern
Uganda specifically?
In Northern Uganda and Westnile region, biomass/bush burning starts in the period December – February and March –
May every year. During this period the region is on fire and the visible indicators such as smoke, burned forest, bushes,
woodlots, grassland are very common.
Furthermore, during this period it’s very dry and temperatures are hot compared to other neighboring regions like Bunyoro
region in the south and Buganda region in the far south.
A transect through these regions from Buganda, Bunyoro, Northern Uganda and Westnile in day, one is able to visibly
see the escalating environmental degradation and also feel the temperature rise across the region. It’s highly likely that
bush burning largely contributes to the environmental degradation and local temperature rise among other factors during
this period of the year.

6. D) The negative impacts of this practice especially to the overall
agricultural productivity and biodiversity, possibly loss of potential
pollinators…
i. The impacts of indiscriminate bush burning (both positive and negative) on biodiversity i.e. forest loss, soil
degradation, release of soil carbon; Loss of soil nutrients/soil fertility; Increase in soil temperatures – destruction of
soil organisms
ii. Loss of pollinators (bees/apiary,..) thus directly & negatively impacting on agricultural crop (including: sesame)
productivity
iii. The uncontrolled fire burns forest and trees in central forest reserves (e.g. Zoka and Kei central forest reserves) and
on community and private land, national parks (i.e. Murchinson falls national park);
iv. Loss of Wood lots, pine trees plantations bushes, grasslands, crop fields;
v. Loss of Property for instance Gaaga market in Adjumani town council and Mungula food security store were burnt in
raging bush fires in January 2011.
vi. Infrustrure for instance electric poles, transformer,…thus impacting on other livelihood and economic activities.

7. E) What are the best alternatives to this poor practice for small
holder farmers?... and other good best practice cases else where
• Before identification of the alternatives, its important to understand why the practice is common. Thus, some times its
not initiated by the farmers, but hunters. In such cases the practices should be discouraged by criminalizing and
booking the culprits or proving them alternative and. more gainful livelihood opportunities.
• For cases were its practices by smallholders with due consideration that its an easier way of clearing land/bush, more
sensitization should be conducted clearly highlighting the implications.
• Hence, farmers should use the normal acceptable practices for land traction, clearing and opening by application of
hoes/panga; oxen ploughs and tractor
• Introducing improved pastures for livestock
• Training for controlled burning to tap into positive attributes of burning like making biochar

8. F) Possible actions to stop the practice and which institutions at
Local Government level should lead and coordinate
The following practical recommendations are suggested for implementation by stakeholders in agriculture, environment and
natural resources sub sector (including Line ministries, Government agencies like National Environment Management
Authority, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Local Governments, Police, Civil Society Organization, Private Sector, Religious and
Cultural Institutions, Academia, National Research Organizations, Schools, Leaders, and Development Partners) towards
regulation and control of bush fires:
a. Advancing targeted awareness creation for action against bush fires and associated impacts on livelihood and economic
development at all levels including local and national;
b. Establishment of structural means to regulate or control bush fires (e.g. fire bands) from expanding into agricultural
landscapes, forest reserves and national parks;
c. Training of stakeholders including communities on control and regulation of bush fires;
d. Accessing machinery to respond by saving communities in case of emergencies especially when the fires extend into
farmland, homesteads, rural markets;
e. Advancing action research to understudy the practice and phenomenon of uncontrolled bush burning;
f. Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries should consider reviewing and updating outdated laws on bush
burning;
g. Active involvement of the community and stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of local ordinances and
bylaws to control and regulate bush burning.

9. G) Concluding remarks
• Bush burning is largely influenced by culture, behavior, practice and mindset in the community. Therefore,
addressing and or controlling it requires changes in behavior, social-cultural practices and mindset.
• Bush burning can traverse boundaries (both local governments and international) depending on the location of
the natural resources affected. In this respect therefore, it requires trans-boundary responses – (beyond administrative
boundaries) by proactive involvement of the key stakeholders in a coordinated manner. Thus, requires collaborative
efforts across local Governments.
• The Sesame Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) provides a great opportunity and the framework for mobilization of
key stakeholders for joint planning and engagements to curb bush burning in the region. This will require targeted
awareness (through campaigns) and generate discussions on the negative impacts of bush burning among key
stakeholders, eliminate indiscriminate bush burning and trigger actions that reinforce and operationalize by-laws on
bush burning at Local Government level.
• There is need to quantify and understand the cost of indiscriminate bush burning on environment, livelihoods
health, and economic development – as this is the only way communities can appreciate the implications towards
changing the bad practice.

10. Source: Environmental Alert .

11. Video --- BUSH BURNING CAUSE OF POWER OUTAGES IN NORTHERN UGANDA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AEoC3u2FdE
Source: UBC, 2019.
Other key references for further reading:
Uncontrolled bush burning is harmful to our environment. http://envalert.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Final-
Bush-Burning-FWD-Oct2017.pdf
Prolonged Droughts. Westnile and Northern Uganda on Fire. An article featured in the NEMA news June 2011.
https://www.slideshare.net/JoshuaZake1/prolonged-droughts-westnile-and-northern-uganda-on-fire-an-article-
featured-in-the-nema-news-june-2011

12. H). About Environmental Alert
Environmental Alert was founded in 1988 and is officially registered Non Government
Organization with board. Thus, in 2018 – EA made 30 years of contribution to food security
and sustainable environment and natural resources management in Uganda.
Environmental Alert is a 1st prize winner of the Energy globe award for environmental
sustainability- 2005 under the category, earth.
Environmental Alert is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) and a Member of The IUCN National Committee for Uganda.
Environmental Alert envisions, ‘Resilient and dignified communities, managing their
environment and natural resources sustainably.’
Environmental Alert’s mission is to, ‘Contribute to improved livelihoods of vulnerable
communities by Enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainable natural resources
management.
Further information about Environmental Alert is available at: http://envalert.org/
Environmental Alert as a Secretariat mobilizes and coordinates 250 CSOs/CBOs for joint
action engagement at national and local levels through the various CSO Networks
Environmental Alert hosts Secretariat for following
networks:
a) The Network for Civil Society
Organizations in Environment & Natural
Resources Sector (ENR-CSO Network)
http://enr-cso.org/ ;
b) Uganda Forestry Working Group
http://ufwg.envalert.org/;
c) The Standards Development Group; and
d) Promoting Local Innovation in
ecologically oriented agriculture and
natural resources management
(PROLINNOVA-Uganda Network)
http://www.prolinnova.net/uganda.
e) National Renewable Energy CSO network

13. EA Program focus (components, approaches and location)
Scale of Implementation:
As at end of December 2019, EA led interventions reached 40 districts across the country (i.e. 20
in the Albertine graben --Arua, Nebbi, Koboko, Moyo, Adjumani, Maracha, Masindi, Hoima, Buliisa, Kagadi,
Kyenjojo, Kibaale, Kasese, Bushenyi, Rubirizi, Mitooma, Rukingiri, Kabarole, Kisoro and Bundibugyo, Rakai);
Kampala, Arua, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, Buikwe, Luweero, Isingiro, Rakai, Kyegegwa,
Gulu, Masindi, Kabalore, Kyenjojo, …
• National level policy engagement on Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources
Management Issues
• EA as a Secretariat for various mobilized and coordinated over 260 CSOs/CBOs for joint action
engagement at national and local levels through CSO Networks such as Uganda Forest
Working Group - http://ufwg.envalert.org/ ; Standards Development Group; Environment and
Natural Resources -CSO Network - http://enr-cso.org/ ; PROLINNOVA-Uganda Network -
http://www.prolinnova.net/uganda ; and CSO Network on renewable Energy in Uganda.
• Area wide issue based awareness engagements especially through print media and radio –
thus, reached about 655,000 people ( i.e. 400,000 through radio campaigns and 120,000
through print media & 130000 through social media; & 5000 through Workshops).
• Maintained good relationship with key strategic partners to support & advance program
implementation.
Thank you for
Listening!