Highlands Restoration and the Power of Partnership
From the steep slopes of Mount Elgon, the journey moved southwest to the Kigezi highlands in Kabale District, where mist clings to terraced hillsides and volcanic soils are both a blessing and a risk. Known once as the “Switzerland of Uganda,” Kabale’s beauty masks a fragile balance: steep slopes stripped of tree cover are prone to erosion, and climate-induced rainfall now arrives in shorter, more destructive bursts.
Against this backdrop, Mourine Asiimwe, a daughter of Kabale, had already been leading her own restoration charge. Alarmed by the loss of native trees, she used her platform as first runner-up in the 2019/2020 Miss Conservation Kigezi pageant to launch a “Tree for Every Twitter Follower” campaign. The campaign’s traction led her to found Practical Climate Change Responses (PCCR) in 2020, focusing on replanting indigenous species and promoting climate-
Phase I: Building the foundation
Our project team visited in August 2023 and Mourine introduced them to the Ikamiro Land Care Association, a registered community-based organization promoting climate-sensitive land use and gender-inclusive land tenure systems. There was a functional local structure already delivering results:
The association’s work had ripple effects, leading reluctant neighbors to plant trees and replacing myths about tall indigenous trees “causing lightning” with an understanding of their role in flood mitigation and soil stability. Practical demonstrations in farmer field schools helped members test and adopt effective farming practices. The association had achieved tangible results, including improved drainage through 126 water trenches spanning 5 kilometres, which reduced the risk of flood damage. The Association also mobilized the planting of 80,000 indigenous and fruit trees. Yet challenges remained notably, a shortage of indigenous seedlings to sustain momentum.
Recognizing this, our project supported Mourine’s initiative, PCCR, with materials to establish a community nursery. With Mourine’s guidance, the nursery would propagate native seedlings, monitor growth, and use natural springs for irrigation. The community is also committed to guarding against invasive species and sharing its knowledge with neighboring villages.
“It is amazing to see that through our continuous awareness raising, local communities are bursting myths… and instead dedicating efforts toward restoration.” — Akampurira Apollo, Ikamiro Land Care Association.
Phase II: The Awakening
On 28 September 2024, Hannah Bamwerinde, a Bosch Alumni Network member, revisited Mourine and her community in the follow-up phase II. Hannah witnessed Ikamiro’s challenges first-hand—frequent landslides, seasonal flooding, and the invasive spread of non-native tree species. The indigenous tree nursery, established in 2023, had itself been hit by a landslide. However, in a testament to local ownership, most seedlings were salvaged and relocated with community labour.
The visit included an assessment of what had happened to the nursery, interactive training with a National Forestry Authority officer, and listening to the community’s aspirations. One idea stood out: adding beekeeping to diversify livelihoods and strengthening land management for the restored landscapes was key. The forestry officer also offered hands-on advice on drainage management to help prevent local flooding.
Over the two years, the experience with the Ikamiro Land Association has underscored that climate resilience is most effective when it is community-led. Local leaders at the local council I (LC1) level and active members have tracked which flood-mitigation measures work and which do not. Residents have contributed indigenous knowledge from the benefits of native species to traditional weather indicators, which shape more sustainable, locally owned solutions. The association and community, however, lack the means to implement their initiatives on a larger scale, particularly in finance and technology.