Nyakarongo Central Forest Reserve

Nyakarongo Central Forest Reserve is a protected area located in Kibaale district, western Uganda approximately 215 kilometers from Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda. The forest reserve covers an area of 3,535 hectares.

Setting and Structure
The forest reserve is located in Mugarama sub-county and Kangombe village. It is situated close to the villages Wantema, Bigaga and Katwetwe. It is located at latitude 0.8378° or 0° 50' 16" north and longitude 31.1548° or 31° 9' 17" east.

Conservation Status
Nyakarongo is a protected reserve area managed by the National Forestry Authority, a government agency responsible for enforcing protection of the ecosystem in all forest reserves and significantly minimizing encroachment and deforestation.

Threats
Nyakarongo Forest Reserve, along with other forests in Kibaale district, was significantly depleted by new settlers and Banyoro in 1990s. The other forests included Kagombe, Kasaato, Nyakarongo, and Ruzaire.

In 2023, 34 persons were imprisoned in Kibaale district for destroying the Nyakarango protected forest. The forestry authority took action due to the worrisome rate of forest loss in Kibaale area. An estimated 1,000 Banyoro encroached on the district's five forest reserves, totaling approximately 5,000 hectares. The arrests were a significant step forward in the fight against deforestation in the Kibaale district.