World Nature Conservation Day stands as a critical global reminder that the finite natural resources that keep our world in balance, our air, water, soil, forests, wetlands, and wildlife, demand our careful, collective stewardship.

Uganda is currently facing a severe deforestation crisis, losing 23% of its tree cover between 2000 and 2020. Because the country’s economy relies heavily on small-scale farming, this forest loss is largely driven by the expansion of agricultural land, alongside logging and fossil fuel extraction.

This crisis reflects a harsh global reality. In 2025 alone, the planet lost about 4.3 million hectares of tropical rainforest. This continuous loss is worsening the global climate crisis, leading to more frequent and severe fires, floods, and droughts that directly impact local communities.

When we lose plant and animal species, the natural systems we rely on begin to break down. This directly threatens our food supply, health, and economy. World Nature Conservation Day reminds us of these connections, urging us to act before the damage becomes permanent.

Since 1999, the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) has spent nearly three decades changing how we protect nature. They have pioneered creative funding methods that make conservation financially rewarding for local communities. ECOTRUST’s mission is to connect people with nature by ensuring that protecting the environment also helps them earn a living.

Through its landmark Trees for Global Benefits (TGB) initiative launched in 2003, ECOTRUST designed a market-based carbon financing system that treats landscape restoration as a sustainable business.

By linking smallholder farmers to the voluntary carbon market, ECOTRUST has empowered over 54,000 households across major ecological landscapes to plant native trees, restore degraded soils, and generate reliable income, proving that performance-based green finance can turn local populations into long-term environmental stewards.

Building on this 27-year foundation of green finance, ECOTRUST is now leveraging new technology and financial frameworks to address a critical ecological emergency: the fragmentation of the Northern Albertine Rift.

The tropical forests of the Albertine Rift are home to an incredible amount of Africa’s wildlife. This single area protects 52% of the continent’s bird species, 39% of its mammal species, 19% of its amphibians, and 14% of its reptiles and plants.

However, rapid deforestation and land damage have broken these forests into isolated patches. This has created a severe crisis for Uganda’s remaining 5,000 endangered eastern chimpanzees, forcing them to walk through human farmlands to get from one forest patch to another.

To drive urgent action, ECOTRUST introduced the Bio-credits program, a community-led framework designed to restore these vital forest pathways.

The program targets a pilot area of approximately 2,000 hectares, focusing heavily on a land area of 1,228 hectares connecting the Bugoma and Wambabya forests, alongside ten patches of highly degraded community land earmarked to become community reserves between Budongo, Kasongoire, and Mukhihani.

By utilising biodiversity credits as economic incentives, the project supports local forest owners and communities in restoring the riverine and moist semi-deciduous forests that serve as crucial physical stepping stones for wildlife.

Through collaborative partnerships with local organisations, government bodies, and international agencies, this initiative blends rigorous biodiversity assessments and community capacity building to catalyse a transformative shift in landscape preservation.

True nature conservation is an ongoing commitment to working together for a sustainable future. The importance of this day stems entirely from its connection to our quality of life when habitats are looked after, wildlife thrives, human health improves, and our shared future becomes more secure.

By working with smallholder farmers, ECOTRUST is planting native trees and creating pollinator-friendly garden patches to store carbon and restore local habitats.

These initiatives actively reduce reliance on charcoal to decrease localised logging pressures, supporting sustainable local agri-businesses such as beekeeping, livestock farming, and shea nut oil production.

As the world marks World Nature Conservation Day, ECOTRUST’s 27-year journey highlights the power of combining conservation with community empowerment. Through innovative financing models, restoration initiatives and sustainable livelihood programmes, the organisation has shown that protecting nature can also create economic opportunities and build a more resilient future for communities and ecosystems.

Tororo, Eastern Uganda, 27th July 2026 – The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, together with its agencies, the National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U), Posta Uganda, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service, conducted a site inspection of the newly renovated Service Uganda Centre in Tororo. Joined by Tororo’s local leadership, including Tororo Municipality’s Deputy Mayor, Beatrice Achola, Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Fahira Mpalanyi and the Town Clerk, Alikwan Ayub Kisubi, among others, the inspection focused on assessing the progress towards finalising renovation works and determining the centre’s readiness for full operations.

The Tororo Service Uganda Centre is one of 19 Service Uganda Centres planned nationwide under the Ministry of Public Service’s One-Stop Centre model. These facilities bring multiple government services, including national ID verification, tax and TIN registration, business registration, passport applications and driving permits under a single roof, eliminating the need for citizens to move between offices scattered across town. The model forms part of Government’s broader public service reform agenda aimed at delivering more accessible and citizen-centred services.

NITA-U, through the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project – Government Network (UDAP-GovNet), is supporting the renovation of three pilot centres in Tororo, Mbarara and Gulu, complementing the wider nationwide rollout led by the Ministry of Public Service.

Commending the progress observed during the inspection, Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, stated, “I am encouraged by what I have seen today at the Tororo Service Uganda Centre. The layout clearly prioritises accessibility and user convenience, which is essential for meaningful public service improvement.”

She added that reliable internet connectivity through NITA-U’s National Backbone Infrastructure Phase V project (NBI Phase V) will significantly improve the efficiency of Service Uganda Centres. She concluded by emphasising that Government’s role extends beyond infrastructure to the rollout of digital services for both the public and private sectors, while ensuring online safety.

Highlighting the collaborative achievement, Dr Hatwib Mugasa, Executive Director of NITA-U, said, “Upon completion, this site will be transformed into a modern, fully functional service centre. This achievement results from the strong partnership between the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, NITA-U, the Ministry of Public Service, Posta Uganda as the hosting partner, contractors and supervising consultants.”

He noted that once fully operational, the Tororo centre will provide digital services that expand job opportunities for the youth, enable residents to communicate grievances to government entities more quickly without travelling to other cities, and serve as a training hub to boost local innovation and digital solutions.

Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service, stressed the need for timely operationalisation. “The people of Tororo have waited long enough for such a facility. Our focus now is to ensure full completion so that the centre can open to the public and begin delivering services as expected.”

She added that the Ministry of Public Service will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

Mr James Arinaitwe, Managing Director of Posta Uganda, reaffirmed Posta Uganda’s commitment to the initiative, stating that the goal of the service centres is to reduce the burden of long-distance travel for citizens seeking public services and to improve the overall quality of service delivery.

The Tororo Service Uganda Centre reflects a wider shift in how government services are delivered in Uganda, moving away from fragmented offices and long queues towards a single, modern point of access.

Six pilot centres are already operational under the program in Entebbe, Kasese, Jinja, Arua, Hoima and at the Ministry of Public Service headquarters. Hoima has become the first regional site to open, while the remaining 18 centres, including Tororo, are at various stages of preparation.

In the music industry, artists get the fame, but it’s the producers who often build the sound. They are the ones who turn raw talent into radio hits and influence the direction of the entire industry.

From the golden days of Kadongo Kamu and live bands to the digital Afrobeat era, these are the producers who left the biggest fingerprints on Ugandan music.

#1. Steve Jean Sserunkuma
If urban Ugandan music has a patriarch, Steve Jean is probably the closest thing to one.

In the early 2000s, his studio Fenon Records became the finishing school for some of the biggest names in Ugandan music. His production helped polish Rasta Rob MC, Shanks Vivie’D, Red Banton, Juliana Kanyomozi, Iryn Namubiru and Blu*3 into household names.

But Steve Jean’s biggest achievement may not even be the number of hits attached to his name; it is the family tree of Ugandan musicians and producers who continue to draw inspiration from him.

Once upon a time, a young Benon Mugumbya, before becoming one half of the Benon and Vamposs duo, walked into Fenon looking to learn both singing and production. Under Steve Jean’s mentorship, Benon developed into a producer himself and later, after leaving Fenon Records, founded Swangz Avenue.

Through Benon, that influence continued to spread to producers such as Just Jose, Big Nash, and Banger Boi.

#2. Dr Tee (Trevor Kazibwe) and Silver Kyagulanyi
Before digital production took over, Ugandan music was built around live instruments, bands and songwriting. Few people shaped that world more than Dr Tee and Silver Kyagulanyi.

Dr Tee became one of the key figures at Kasiwukira Studios, producing and writing countless songs for some of Uganda’s biggest traditional and band musicians, including Mesach Semakula, Geoffrey Lutaaya, Ronald Mayinja, Betty Mpologoma, Angella Kalule, Afrigo Band, Sophie Nantongo, and the like.

What separated Dr Tee and Silver from many producers was that they were not just engineers pushing buttons. They were songwriters, arrangers and musicians who understood the culture behind the music.

A practising lawyer by profession, Silver Kyagulanyi also played a major role in developing artistes through Sauti Media, helping create names like Abdul Mulaasi, Mamuli Katumba, John Segawa and Kazibwe Kappo.

Together, Dr Tee and Silver remain among the biggest influences in the band and Kadongo Kamu world, respected even by producers such as Daddy David of DMS Records and Producer Jonah.

Other producers who worked at Kasiwukira Studios at some point include Steve Jean, Timothy Kizito, Henry Kiwuwa, Paddyman, and Ken Lubwama.

#3. Paddyman (Paddy Kayiwa Mukasa) and Tony Houls (Tony Bikumbi)
During Uganda’s famous Big Three era, when Bebe Cool, Bobi Wine and Jose Chameleone’s rivalries dominated industry conversations, Paddyman and Tony Houls occupied a unique position. All three superstars recorded some of their biggest hits with the pair, making them the producers behind one of the most competitive periods in Uganda’s music history.

Paddyman and Tonny began at Eddy Yawe’s Dream Studios, producing their initial hits. Tonny Houls later joined Bobi Wine at Fire Records, while Paddyman formed his own Audio1 Studio. Coming from a gospel background, Paddyman, whose stage name was crafted for him by Bobi Wine, developed his craft around church music and even shared studio space with Kadongo Kamu legend Elly Wamala. That influence could be heard in his sound at Audio1.

Most of Jose Chameleone’s most inspirational songs, like Valu Valu, Badilisha, Katupakase, Tubonge, Kuba-bulunji, Nzigulira, etc are produced by Paddyman. He also produced for artists including Eddy Kenzo, Judith Babirye, Rema Namakula, Chosen Blood, and Pastor Wilson Bugembe.

#4. Washington David Ebangit – The Goodlyfe’s Lifeline
Washington started at Dream Studios in the early 2000s, working with a young Bobi Wine before moving to Black-Hole Studio, where he became one of Bebe Cool’s main producers. It was a significant breakthrough, with Bebe Cool no longer needing to travel to Kenya to record with Ogopa DJs.

Washington’s defining moment came during his time as the in-house producer for Radio and Weasel at Goodlyfe Magic studios in Neverland, Makindye home. Much of Radio and Weasel’s catalogue carried Washington’s signature sound: guitars pushed to the front of the mix, powerful drums, and basslines inspired by South African sounds.

#5. Jose Chameleone (Joseph Mayanja)
Most people know Jose Chameleone as one of Uganda’s greatest singers, but many forget that he is also a talented producer. Do not mistake him for his nephew Mayaja on da Beat.

During Chameleone’s years in Kenya, he absorbed lessons from the Ogopa DJs camp and returned with a sound influenced by South African instrumentation. Back home, he produced many of his own early songs while also working with upcoming artistes such as Weasel, Lizard (later Pallaso), Radio and Ragga Dee.

As his career evolved, he began working closely with Paddyman, Producer Madder Kayz, Diggy Baur and Yaled.

#6. Diggy Baur (Galabuzi Andrew)
The modern Ugandan sound owes a lot to the rise of Kidandali, and Diggy Baur was among the producers who helped shape that movement. Baur started at Sound Cava before setting up Sabula Records in Makindye.

He peaked at a highly competitive period, surrounded by talents such as Producer Kusseim, Producer Jonah, Producer Crouch, Yaled and Dr Fizzol.

Jonah brought modern touches to Kadongo Kamu; Crouch became known for smooth zouk-inspired arrangements; Yaled transformed David Lutalo’s sound; while Dr Fizzol helped shape the early sounds of Spice Diana, Geosteady and Maro.

Yet Diggy Baur remained one of the standout names. His ability to combine Kidandali melodies with polished Afrobeat production was something he might have borrowed from Producer Madder Kayz, Producer Rinex and Bless Touch.

Diggy Baur was also respected as a skilled mixer, blending live instruments and digital sound with a clean finish. Eno Beats claimed that spot.

#7. Nash Wonder (Enock Kubeerwa)
Some producers dominate for decades. Others burn brightly for a shorter period but leave behind unforgettable work. Nash Wonder belongs to the second category.

During his Monster Studios era, Nash Wonder influenced the rise of artistes including Ziza Bafana, Sheebah Karungi, Khalifah Aganaga, and Pallaso. His run may have been shorter than some others on this list, but his impact was massive.

#8. Nessim Pan Production
Born Isma Mukuzza, Nessim became Steve Jean of his day. He polished the urban Benon-like sound heard in Radio & Weasel/GNL Zamba/Navio with a soft, clean, radio-friendly sound that he orchestrated through Ykee Benda and A Pass.

Nessim began his journey at Badi Musik before founding Shotgun Studios. He credits Tonny Houls for introducing him to production.

Nessim’s sound shaped the early careers of A Pass, New Chapter Africa, Ykee Benda and Levixone. At his peak, his smooth production style set him apart from rivals such as Danz Kumapeesa, Andy Muzic, Aethan and Producer Hannz.

#9. Artin Pro (Martin Musoke)
Shortly after joining the music industry in 2015, Artin Pro and T.O.N helped introduce a fresh wave of artistes between 2016 and 2018, including Fik Fameica, Rickman Manrick, Karole Kasita, and Latinum, who embraced the Nigerian-influenced sound.

Their sound defined an era in Uganda’s music scene, where digital production, infectious melodies, and youth-driven songwriting began shaping the mainstream. The simplicity of their lyrics became part of the appeal, turning everyday phrases into hooks that listeners could easily sing along.

In 2019, Artin Pro launched Axtra Nation Studio after leaving Jahlive Studios

#10. Daddy Andre (Ojambo Andrew)
Every era has its leading producer, and though we have trending producers like Trapex Booming, Producer Genee, Chemical Beats, Hey Sekret, Banger Boi, Bass Boi, and Producer Horace, Daddy Andre’s influence is still existent.

Whether he eventually reaches the legendary status of Steve Jean will depend on time, but for now, he is the producer defining and influencing the current Ugandan sounds.

As of July 25, 2026, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is experiencing a global outage, leaving its roughly 210 million daily active users unable to access the AI chatbot. The company’s official status page reports ongoing issues affecting ChatGPT, APIs, and Codex. The status page also states the problem is actively being investigated.

The outage comes a day after Fox News warned readers to lock down their ChatGPT accounts before the next AI attack, though no link between the two has been confirmed.

This is at least the fourth major disruption to hit ChatGPT this July alone.

Check status.openai.com for real-time updates.

MTN MoMo from MTN Uganda has introduced Travel by MoMo, a new service that allows Ugandans to search, compare, and book flights directly from the MoMo app without visiting a travel agency or using a bank card.

Developed in partnership with Next Travel, the service allows MTN users to pay for air tickets using MTN Mobile Money while viewing fares in Uganda shillings.

If you’re planning your next trip, here’s how to book your flight using the MTN MoMo app.

Step 1: Open the MoMo App
Launch the updated MTN MoMo app on your smartphone and sign in.

From the home screen, tap Buy, then select Travel, followed by Travel by MoMo.

Step 2: Register or Log In
Before booking your flight, tap the Register/Login button in the top-left corner. You can create a Travel by MoMo account by entering your full name, date of birth, passport number, passport issuing country, and a password.

Creating an account is optional; you can continue as a guest, although registering can make future bookings easier.

Step 3: Enter Your Travel Details
On the Travel by MoMo booking page, enter your travel information, including trip type (One-way, Round trip, or Multi-city), departure and destination cities, travel dates, number of travellers, and Cabin class (Economy, Premium Economy, Business or First Class).

Once you’ve entered your details, tap Search to view available flights.

Step 4: Compare Available Flights
Travel by MoMo will display flights matching your search. Depending on your route, you may find airlines such as Uganda Airlines, RwandAir, Qatar Airways, and other regional and international carriers.

Here you can compare ticket prices, departure and arrival times, flight durations, number of stops, and refund options. Airlines with refundable and non-refundable tickets are marked.

Step 5: Choose your Flight
Once you find a flight that suits you, tap Book Now below your preferred airline.

You will then be required to provide your email address (email ID) and phone number if you did not create a Travel by MoMo account.

Step 6: Pay Using MTN MoMo
Keep MTN MoMo selected as your payment option, accept the terms and conditions, then tap Continue.

You’ll receive a Mobile Money payment prompt on your phone. Enter your Mobile Money PIN to authorise the payment.

Once the transaction is successful, your booking will be confirmed, and your e-ticket will be sent to your email.

Need Help with Your Booking?
If you run into any issues while booking, the Travel by MoMo page includes both WhatsApp and Call buttons for direct customer support.

For 27 years, the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) has been at the forefront of national restoration efforts, championing tree-planting initiatives across the country. However, planting trees is only the beginning; ensuring they stay standing requires a sustainable approach.

To bridge the gap between conservation and daily survival, ECOTRUST employs a powerful threefold strategy aimed at empowering community members to create eco-friendly businesses that generate income while the forests mature. By transforming conservation into a viable source of livelihood, local communities no longer have to rely on deforestation to survive.

In Northern Uganda, this vision is coming to life through two local collectives: the Acung Kedi Beekeeping Group and Orii United Beekeeping Group. Recently, these groups underwent intensive training designed to help them map out both collective business goals and individual life aspirations.

Using the Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) structured approach, ECOTRUST ensured that both men and women were equally involved in drawing up their Vision Road Journeys. This inclusive tool allows community members to create clear, long-term sustainability goals, identify potential opportunities and structural challenges, develop practical, community-led solutions, and monitor and assess their own progress over time.

By centring women in these discussions, the program directly tackles deep-rooted myths and gender barriers. Traditional beekeeping has historically sidelined women due to the heavy, labour-intensive nature of hanging traditional hives high in trees. The GALS framework ensures women have an equal seat at the table as the community transitions to safer, more accessible modern technologies.

The logic behind the initiative is simple yet profound: give people a reason to value living trees over timber.

“It is very important for these farmers to have alternative livelihood options because most of them depend on the trees for charcoal, making traditional beehives, and clearing land for commercial farming,” explains Priscilla Nabuyemba, the Business Development Officer representing ECOTRUST.

“But if they have options to obtain income, such as beekeeping, while leaving the trees standing, it creates a win-win situation for the trees and the surrounding ecosystem,” She adds.

Northern Uganda’s natural environment is exceptionally well-suited for apiculture. To capitalise on this, ECOTRUST is partnering with Hive Uganda to help farmers transition from decades of subsistence-level traditional practices into a thriving, highly commercialised enterprise.

The next phase of the intervention involves hands-on, technical training. ECOTRUST experts will support the farmers in constructing model apiaries. These sites will feature a mix of both traditional and modern beehives, serving as living classrooms where farmers will learn the ins and outs of hive management, safe honey harvesting, the use of protective gear, post-harvest handling, and value addition.

However, establishing a communal business requires a solid foundation. Farmers were urged to carefully discuss and allocate land for these model apiaries to prevent future land disputes that could disrupt their progress.

Fortunately, the community spirit is strong. Stephen Ojok, the secretary of the Acung Kedi Beekeeping Group, noted that the training reshaped his entire outlook.

“By learning about the vision road journey, I now have a vision to upgrade from local beehives to modern ones, and to build a permanent house to replace my grass-thatched home,” Ojok shares.

Demonstrating his commitment, Ojok has offered up his own land for the project. “The land here is customary, so I do not think we will face disputes. I personally have land that I am willing to provide for the business.”

The impact of this training is already rippling through individual households. Christine Abalo, another member of the Acung Kedi group, eyes a brighter, more independent future.

“The training has enabled me to get knowledge that I will apply in the future. I believe that I will also be in a position to establish my personal business in addition to the group enterprise. This will help reduce the rate of poverty at home,” Abalo says.

Originally brought together by ECOTRUST under the Transformative Approach to Sustainable Landscapes and Livelihoods (TASLL) Project in Northern Uganda to promote planting of native trees in the region as simple tree growers, the members quickly realised the economic power of solidarity. As a collective, they anticipate much stronger market accessibility and better bargaining power for their premium honey products.

ECOTRUST’s commitment to these farmers remains long-term. Through continuous technical guidance, modern technology integration, and direct links to lucrative markets, this initiative is proving that communities don’t have to choose between earning a living and protecting the planet.

MTN Uganda has started rolling out a 4-digit Mobile Money PIN code for new customers, marking a change from the 5-digit PIN system that existing users have used for years.

The change, which users began reporting on 21 July 2026, affects customers registering new MTN SIM cards or activating MTN MoMo (Mobile Money) for the first time. During setup, they can only create a 4-digit PIN.

What Happens to Existing MTN MoMo Users With a 5-Digit PIN?
According to MTN MoMo Support on X, existing MTN customers with a 5-digit Mobile Money PIN will continue using it unless they choose to change or reset their PIN.

That means if you already have a 5-digit PIN, nothing changes for now. However, if you forget your Mobile Money PIN code or choose to reset it, you’ll be required to use a 4-digit PIN instead.

The move brings MTN Uganda’s Mobile Money PIN format in line with Airtel Uganda, which has long used a 4-digit Airtel Money PIN code.

One notable difference, however, is that MTN’s new MoMo PIN rules appear to be more restrictive on PIN choices. While Airtel Money allows some simple combinations, such as 4444, MTN’s new 4-digit PIN system does not seem to accept weak or easily guessed PINs, including repeated digits like 0000 or predictable combinations such as 1234.

The Ghetto Kids from Uganda made history when they performed on one of the world’s biggest entertainment stages alongside global superstars Shakira and Burna Boy at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final. The performance was more than another international appearance for the Kampala-based dance group; it placed Ugandan talent at the centre of the most-watched event globally for a solid two minutes.

The historic show took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during the first-ever official FIFA World Cup Final halftime show. With more than 80,000 fans filling the stadium and over a billion viewers tuning in worldwide, the 0-1 final match between Argentina and Spain became a global phenomenon, as appearances by major icons in music and film delivered a Super Bowl-style show.

For the Ghetto Kids, appearing on that stage marked a major leap in their journey, which began in 2014 with performances in Kampala suburbs and appearances in music videos.

The Ghetto Kids’ path to the World Cup stage began after Shakira saw a clip of their improvised choreography to her song “Zoo” from Zootopia 2. Impressed by their creativity and energy, the “ageless” Colombian superstar invited the Ugandan-bred dancers, led by Dauda Kavuma, to feature in the official “Dai Dai” music video, a FIFA World Cup 2026 song by Shakira and Nigerian Grammy-winning star Burna Boy.

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis and featuring star cameos from football legends including Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, the “Dai Dai” music video was shot over two days in early April 2026, primarily at Robot Studios in Miami. On 20 May 2026, just days before the video’s official release, Shakira officially unveiled her collaboration with the Ghetto Kids.

Their bond grew even stronger as the Ghetto Kids spent time rehearsing and touring New York City with the singer.

What can’t be left out is that, on their second trip around June, the Ghetto Kids’ World Cup dream hung in the balance when U.S. health protocols linked to the Ebola outbreak required the troupe to spend 21 days in quarantine in Ecuador before they could land in the United States to take the stage.

Against the odds, they made it through. On 15 July 2026, a day after their viral walkout at her New Jersey concert, Shakira confirmed she would perform with “The @Ghettokids_tfug from Uganda” during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on 19 July 2026.

The rest is history. The Ghetto Kids are now cemented global icons who earned Uganda a spot in the spotlight brighter than what some of the competing nations in the tournament got.

As the Transformative Approach to Sustainable Landscapes and Livelihoods (TASLL) project officially winds down, key implementation partners recently gathered for a high-level stakeholder engagement to review achievements, evaluate challenges, and secure a robust sustainability plan.

The TASLL Northern Uganda project targeted the critical conservation of over 65,548 hectares of natural forest in the Agoro-Agu landscape, an area in the Acholi sub-region spanning Lamwo, Pader, Kitgum, and Agago districts. To combat local deforestation, the project set out to sustainably reforest 15,000 hectares by planting 6 million native trees, intentionally extending these restoration efforts into refugee-hosting communities.

While the sudden end of funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) was a major talking point at the engagement meeting, ECOTRUST leadership made it clear that such contingencies are always incorporated into project design.

“We received word from the donor that they are unlikely to provide additional funding,” noted Freddie Kalibwani, representing ECOTRUST. “However, the design of this project already anticipated its conclusion. We prepared for this exit strategy, and our message today is clear: we are ready. How do you exit a forestry project? You stay with your trees. We are going nowhere because the trees are right here. We are now transitioning from TASLL to Trees for Global Benefit (TGB), falling back on our mother program. Projects may come and go, but we remain. We are committed to staying by the side of these households for another 25 years.”

This structural shift moves local farmers into ECOTRUST’s long-running Trees for Global Benefit (TGB) program. Gerald Kairu, the Head of Programmes at ECOTRUST, emphasised that local communities will receive full support throughout this next phase.

“We are ensuring that the activities don’t stop here; they continue,” Kairu explained. “That’s why we call it transiting from the donor-funded FCDO to the ECOTRUST-supported Trees for Global Benefit project. We are still around, so we shall continue supporting these farmers until they join the carbon project. They sign what they call the carbon sales contracts, not land contracts.”

Over its two-year implementation cycle, the project achieved remarkable milestones across the landscape, conducting home visits to digitally map 5,000 farmers, training 22 local tree nursery operators, and planting a total of 508,820 trees including naturalised species like teak (Tectona grandis) alongside nutritional fruit trees such as jackfruit and avocado.

To drive the adoption of indigenous species, the team conducted 45 community meetings, resulting in the planting of 416,488 native trees across 1,041.22 hectares. Continuous digital tree-tracking proved highly successful, revealing that an exceptional 98.6% of the trees monitored from the 2025 planting season were in good, healthy condition.

Beyond environmental restoration, the project placed a heavy emphasis on social inclusion and household economic resilience. Using Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) tools, 3,430 community members comprising 2,227 males and 1,203 females were trained in collaborative land-use planning.

ECOTRUST is also moving quickly to establish market-based sustainability enterprises, such as apiculture and shea value chain enterprises, to boost immediate household incomes while communities wait for long-term carbon yields.

“We want to construct a centre of excellence in Pader and honey collection centres in Lamwo and Agago,” Kairu highlighted. “The intention is to support our people to improve their livelihood. There’s nothing else to benefit from this; the moment you improve somebody’s livelihood, you have done your job.”

To guarantee long-term success, sustainability arrangements will be integrated with District Local Government development plans, working closely with technical and political teams, including; Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), District Forest Officers (DFOs), District Community Development Officers (DCDOs), Local Council 3 and 5 chairpersons, as well as the National Forestry Authority (NFA), and the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE).

“We are deeply grateful for this project because it has directly contributed to our targets in the District Development Plan, particularly in establishing woodlots and boosting local livelihoods,” said Richard Ociti, the Lamwo District Environmental Officer and project focal person. “The milestones achieved so far are remarkable. Moving forward, our focus is to continue supporting our beneficiary groups to ensure these benefits are sustained, while empowering others to learn and reap as much as they can from this initiative.”

Proscovia Kisembo, the Regional Coordinator for the project, expressed profound gratitude to this institutional network for their unwavering support since the initiative’s inception in 2024.

“I would like to thank the district leadership that has worked with us since 2024, with support towards the mobilisation of farmers to participate in the project, supply of seedlings, and monitoring of the planted trees,” Kisembo said. “We look forward to working with the leaders as we head towards the transition.”

While physical project offices in Agago, Lamwo, and Pader will close to streamline costs, operations are consolidating into the regional Kitgum hub, ensuring that the environmental and economic roots planted over the last two years remain permanently anchored in the community.

#1. World Cup Winners Don’t Get to Keep the Trophy
The original FIFA World Cup trophy is permanently housed at the FIFA Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. World Cup winners briefly celebrate with the original trophy during the official presentation ceremony, immediately after the final match, before receiving the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophy, a gold-plated replica they can keep. The original remains FIFA’s property.

#2. Why FIFA Introduced a New World Cup Trophy
The current World Cup trophy was first presented in 1974, replacing the previous Jules Rimet trophy (1930 – 1970) that was permanently awarded to Brazil in 1970 after they became the first nation to win the World Cup three times.

#3. Not Pure Gold!
The FIFA World Cup trophy weighs about 6.1 kg and contains roughly 5 kg of 18-carat gold (75% gold mixed with other metals). The two green bands (layers) around the trophy’s base are crafted from the semi-precious stone malachite.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy isn’t made of pure 24-carat gold because pure gold is too soft and malleable, making it vulnerable to scratches and dents during handling and celebrations.

#4. The FIFA World Cup Trophy is Hollow
Despite looking like a solid sculpture, the FIFA World Cup Trophy is actually hollow inside. This hollow interior keeps the 18-carat gold trophy at a manageable 6.175 kg. If it were made from solid gold, it would weigh an estimated 70-80 kg.

#5. Not Everyone Can Touch the World Cup Trophy
Despite being lifted by champions around the world, the original FIFA World Cup Trophy can only be touched without gloves by a select few, including the FIFA President, heads of state, World Cup-winning players and officials.

#6. Engraving at the Bottom
The names of every FIFA World Cup-winning team and the year of their victory are engraved on the trophy’s base. After the 2014 tournament, FIFA changed the engraving layout from vertical rows to a spiral configuration, creating enough space for future champions until 2038.

#7. Who Designed the World Cup Trophy?
Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga (1921–2016), the original FIFA World Cup Trophy has an estimated value of around US$20 million, making it one of the most valuable trophies in sport.

The FIFA World Cup trophy depicts two human figures lifting the Earth, symbolising the joy and unity of victory on football’s biggest stage.