This document presents research findings on the impact of medium to large private sector investments on great ape habitats in the Albertine Rift region of Western Uganda. It aims to identify and map both the current extent of these habitats and the planned investments overlapping them to highlight key areas for conservation. The findings indicate significant overlaps that could threaten great ape habitats, suggesting a need for focused conservation efforts.

1. Mapping of Medium to Large Private Sector
Investments and their Overlap with Great Apes’
Habitats in the Albertine Rift Region, Western
Uganda
Research findings presented by:
Kyongera Denis (Makerere Univ.)
BSc Conservation Biology (Honors)
MSc in Zoology (Wildlife Option): 2013-2015
September 2014

2. 1. INTRODUCTION
Of all the tropical rain forests in Uganda, it is only those in
western part of the country that are habitats of great apes.
This is because of the historical geographical connection of
the great apes that inhabit the Congo Basin.
The habitats of great apes have been under threat over
many decades from different types of land uses, including
medium to large scale private sector investments.
However, there is scanty information regarding the
relationship between medium to large scale private sector
investments and their overlap with the great apes’ habitats
which was the focus of my study.

3. 2. Objectives
The general objective was to:
assess the likely factors (due to private investments) that
would have the greatest future impacts on the habitats of
great apes in Western Uganda in order to identify key
areas for conservation focus.
The specific objectives were to:
1. identify and map the current extent of great apes’
habitats in the Albertine Rift Region, Western Uganda

4. Specific Objectives cont’
2. identify and map the existing and planned medium to
large private sector investments,
3. determine the overlap between the mapped private
sector investments and great apes’ habitats in the
Albertine Region to identify key areas of conservation
concern.

5. Study Area
The Albertine rift region indicating the locations of great apes habitats

6. 3. STUDY APPROACH
1. Current extent of great apes’ habitats:
a) Acquired Landsat ETM+ satellite data of 2011
b) Processed them (georeferencing, rectification and
mosaicking)
c) Acquired the 2002 Uganda land cover map produced by
FAO and translated it’s legend to NFA classification
legend
d) Superimposed the FAO map onto the satellite imagery
and reshaped the forest polygons to fit the current extent

7. Illustration
Red lines show the previous extent of the forest habitat (FAO 2000), blue lines show the
current extent of the forest habitat (leaf green); that were reshaped/resized in ArcGIS
software ( on the left is a section of Budongo and on the right Kagombe Forest)

8. Study approach cont’d
2. Location of medium to large private sector investments:
a) Ground truthing was conducted using a GPS
receiver/existing maps to correlate satellite image
characteristics with large scale commercial plantations
i.e. tea, broadleaved and coniferous plantations, sugar
and rice.
b) The information obtained was then used to interpret and
classify Landsat ETM+ imagery acquired in 2011.
c) Existing spatial information from different government
agencies & private companies was also obtained and
integrated with information derived from satellite images.

9. Study approach cont’d
3. Mapping of planned medium to large private investments
a) Information from the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA)
about planned investments was obtained.
b) The approximate position of these investments was
established and then mapped based on the physical
address.
c) Additional information from PEPD , UNRA, UETCL was
obtained and mapped.
d) The planned investments were integrated with great
apes’ habitat map to indicate the overlap(s).

10. 4. FINDINGS
General land cover/use types of the Albertine Rift Region:
Land cover/use class Area in Km2
Great apes habitat coverage
(protected and non protected):
1. Tropical high Forest 4,328
1. Degraded Forest 1,443
Sub total 5,771
Large scale investments (crops):
1. Sugar cane plantation 147
1. Tea plantation 144
1. Rice Plantation 59
Subtotal 350
Planted forestry:
1. Broad Leaved Plantation 16
1. Coniferous Plantation 76
Subtotal 92
Other land cover/use types: 48,548
Grand Total 54,763

11. 2. Existing Medium to Large Private Investments
Budongo Forest Reserve in leaf green and
sugar plantations in orange color
Wambabya, Bugoma and Kasota Forest
Reserves in leaf green, Sugar plantation
in orange and tea plantations in Citroen
Yellow

12. Existing Medium to Large Private Investments cont’d
Semuliki, Mt. Rwenzori, and Kibale National Park, Kitechura, Ibambaro, and Matiri
Forest Reserves in leaf green. Tea plantations in Citreon Yellow and rice plantations in
Nubuck Tan, sugar plantations in Orange

13. Existing Medium to Large Private Investments Cont’d
Kasyoha-Kitomi , Kalinzu/Maramagambo
Forests Reserves in leaf green and tea
Plantations in Citroen yellow
Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga
National Park, Echuya Forest
Reserve in leaf green. and
coniferous plantation in pick

14. Existing agriculture investments and tourism
infrastructure overlapping with great apes’ habitats
Summary of the mapped
Investments (point data)
Type of Investment
No.
investments
Agricultural enterprise
Tea factories 18
Cotton Ginneries 5
Coffee factories 46
Cocoa factory 1
Dairy 22
commercial farms 10
Horticulture 2
Saw Mills 10
Research centrres 2
Tree planting 1
Irrigation sites 1
Fish processing plants 14
sub total 132
Tourism Infrastructure 32
Grand total 164

15. Existing mining companies overlapping with the habitats
Mining: zoomed-in to a portion of
the Albertine Region

16. Status of licensing of oil and gas companies in the
Albertine Region

17. 3. Planned Medium to Large Private Investments
Planned medium to large private investments in the northern section of Albertine
Region overlapping/in proximity with great apes’ habitats.

18. Planned private sector investments in the southern section
of Albertine Region

19. Conclusions
It is evident that the private sector investments overlap or
are in close proximity with the great apes’ habitats.
The overlap (hot spots) could be a threat to the great apes’
habitats.
These hot spots could be a basis for conservation focus for
the great apes in the Albertine Region.

20. Way Forward
1. The next step is to ask for an extension of two months to
allow me carry out ground truthing exercises regarding
the accuracy of mapped medium to large scale private
investments; and
2. Prepare a final report.

21. End!
Any Suggestion for improvement?