Advancing Sustainable Peatlands Management in Uganda and Rwanda: Launch of Peat4people Project
Uganda recognizes the importance of peatlands as a nature-based solution for climate and nature. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment Uganda implored citizens to recognize the significance of peatlands and work collaboratively to protect them for future generations.
Peatland ecosystems play a vital role in mitigating climate change by storing vast amounts of carbon. Peatlands are essential for maintaining biodiversity and supporting various plant and animal species. In a significant step to enhance the sustainable management of the peatland landscape in Uganda and Rwanda, the “Sustainable Peatland Management for People, Climate and Biodiversity” (Peat4People) project was launched on 20th March 2025 at the 8th Uganda Water and Environment Week held at the Ministry of Water and Environment in Luzira, Kampala.
The global project is implemented by a consortium including GPI partners' FAO, the Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in the lead and with its partners the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda and Ministry of Environment, Rwanda. The project aims to enhance relevant stakeholders' technical and financial capacities for the sustainable management of peatland landscapes in Uganda and Rwanda. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through it Initiative for Climate and Environmental Protection (IKU), the project will be implemented from January 2025 to December 2027.
In his keynote address at the launch, Mr. Jan Peters, the Managing Director at the Michael Succow Foundation (MSF), expounded on the value of peatlands in climate action. “Comprising of only 4% of the world’s surface, peatlands store one-third of all carbon soil worldwide (twice more than what is found in the entire world forest biomass),” he emphasized. Mr. Peters noted that peatlands are degrading at an alarming speed. Peatland conservation enhances water quality, regulates hydrological cycles, and provides livelihoods for local communities.
In an interactive panel discussion moderated by Mr. Charles Kabiswa, the Executive Director of Regenerate Africa, different experts expounded on the role of peatlands as nature-based solutions to climate change.
Mr. Mohammed Semambo, Assistant Commissioner, Climate Change Department in MWE Uganda, highlighted Uganda’s progress in integrating peatlands into Uganda’s climate change agenda, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). However, he noted that the insufficient data on peatlands in the national inventory is one of the challenges hindering Uganda from fully exploring the potential of peatlands in its climate change policies and commitments. Prof. Jean Nduwamungu from the University of Rwanda also mentioned that peatlands had been captured in major policies in Rwanda, “but there is still work to be done,” including developing programs and curriculums on peatlands and capacity building on peatland management at all levels.
Responding to the issue of inadequate data for sustainable peatlands management, Dr. Daniel Waiswa, the Manager of the National Biodiversity Database and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography at Makerere University, Uganda, indicated that there is a lot that needs to be done when it comes to peatlands data. Even though the databank has data on the diversity of plants in wetlands and forests, peatlands are a relatively new area of research in which the university and the databank should be interested.
Eng. Nnassuuna Mirembe- Director of Technology for Tomorrow Limited, a local company that manufactures locally made sanitary towels from papyrus known as MakaPads, noted the key challenges they face, including the degradation of peatlands due to agriculture, negative attitude of people on buying locally made sanitary products such as the MakaPads, and inadequate knowledge and awareness on the product. She implored citizens to conserve peatlands and called for support from development partners and the government to support innovations with social and environmental benefits.
The Peat4People project builds upon the work that has been done by the “Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Management on Climate Protection Strategies” (DIAPOL-CE) project implemented by GIZ in partnership with Micheal Succow Foundation, within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Working across the Nile Basin, DIAPOL-CE has supported regional and national policy dialogues on peatlands management and strengthened the technical capacity of key stakeholders in peatlands mapping, assessment, and management. As a result, countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan have included priority mitigation and adaptation measures on peatlands in their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The Peat4People project will improve policy and decision-making processes, promote sustainable paludiculture practices, develop sustainable finance mechanisms, and foster regional and international cooperation. By integrating conservation with economic and policy solutions, Peat4People aims to achieve sustainable peatland landscapes. Ms. Leila Shamsaifar, the Programme Development Specialist, FAO, emphasized that “it was crucial to remember that the sustainable management of peatlands requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders—governments, local communities, private sector partners, and international organizations. “The tools, approaches, and capacities developed throughout the project will facilitate advanced peatland monitoring, enabling stakeholders to make well-informed, effective decisions,” she said. In its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2022, Uganda has set an ambitious mitigation target of reducing GHG emissions by 24.7% by 2030. Peatlands are targeted to contribute significantly to this emission reduction. “As we embark on the NDC revision process, the need to build technical and financial capacities for peatlands management cannot be emphasized enough,” said the Permanent Secretary. He reiterated the government of Uganda’s commitment through the Ministry of Water and Environment to strengthen regional and global collaboration on peatland management for climate action. “We see the Peat4People project as a pillar to strengthen science-based policy decisions on peatlands management, an opportunity to pilot innovative value-chains on peatlands, and a pathway to leverage sustainable financing mechanisms for peatlands management in Uganda and the region,” Dr. Okot Okidi said.
Mr. Philippe Roussel, the Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Uganda, emphasized Germany’s long-standing commitment to fostering sustainable environmental practices and advancing climate resilience in partner countries such as Uganda and Rwanda, and the Peat4People Project is one of those initiatives advancing this commitment from the German government.
In his closing remarks, Dr Okot Okidi confirmed the joint commitment to sustainable peatland management. “As Uganda continues to be a front-runner in peatlands management in Africa, the Ministry of Water and Environment was committed to building stronger partnerships, being open to learning from those who have advanced on this topic and continuously building our capacity in peatlands management. I am confident that together, we can make a lasting difference. Let us take responsibility for our environment, communities, and future generations by protecting our peatlands, the unsung hero in climate action”, Dr Okot Okidi.
With this new initiative launched, we look forward to its successful implementation and impact in collaboration with our partners.
Find the detailed record of the event and launch here: https://zoom.us/rec/share/_vbpsgxqLLUDcxUIIKqsTTeV0lMta4Vl1SKGi80P4EelEu6KQunqTr2fKmqXic7k.ce2GyjXafZ37gE11?startTime=1742468234000
Passcode: QUv+6L@6
Contributors:
Ms Lucy Iyango and Carol Kagaba- Ministry of Water and Environment
Mary Namukose and Salome Alweny-GIZ Uganda