Loss of Forest Ecosystem due to Refugee Settlement: An Analysis of Underlying Causes at Bugoma Central Forest Reserve in Kyangwali Sub-Country, Kikuube District, Western Uganda

Refugees who are settled around Bugoma Central Forest Reserve in Kyangwali Sub-County, Kikuube District have influenced the conservation and protection of the forest ecosystem. Adopting a cross-section research design, 265 respondents from Kyangwali Sub-County, Kikuube District were involved in the study using a questionnaire survey. Findings revealed an increase in charcoal burning by 26.4% and an increase in the cultivation of crops in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve by 19.6%. These activities are responsible for increasing vegetation cover within Bugoma CFR. There is increasing stone quarrying at 38.5% and agricultural intensification in some catchment areas (41.8%) within the Bugoma Central Forest Reserve. There is increasing forest degradation in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve by refugees. The Government of Uganda should enforce strict rules when resettling refugees to ensure that they don’t encroach on the forest reserves near their settlement.