Mpanga Central Forest Reserve Travel Guide, Uganda
MPANGA CENTRAL FOREST RESERVE TRAVEL GUIDE
LOCATION OF MPANGA CENTRAL FOREST RESERVE, UGANDA
Mpanga Forest, also known as Mpanga Central Forest Reserve, is a small but significant natural equatorial rainforest located in the Central Region of Uganda. Mpanga forest is located in Mpigi District specifically in Mpambire. It is approximately 37 kilometers South-West of Kampala City. The forest is easily accessible via a one-hour drive along the main Kampala-Masaka Highway.
SOME HISTORY OF MPANGA CENTRAL FOREST RESERVE, UGANDA
Mpanga Forest, also known as Mpanga Central Forest Reserve, has a rich history that reflects both its ecological significance and cultural heritage. Here’s a detailed summary of its history:
Mpanga Forest was originally part of a larger forest that extended from Lake Victoria to the west. Over time, human activities such as agriculture, logging, and settlement reduced it to its current size.
The forest land was once owned by a wealthy family, and it was named after their son, Mpanga.
Mpanga forest was first gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932. In 1950, Mpanga forest reserve was officially recognized as one of Uganda’s oldest natural rainforest reserves.
In 1953, the Ugandan government designated Mpanga Forest as a scientific research site. This was done to study the effects of selective logging on forest structure and regeneration. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Commonwealth Forestry Institute of Oxford University.
The forest supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, including 500 species of trees and shrubs, 300 species of birds, 97 species of butterflies, and 112 species of moths.
Mpanga Forest Reserve is surrounded by a community of traditional drum makers who use the soft trees from the forest for drum making. This practice has helped preserve the forest, as the harder Celtis trees, which are not suitable for drum making, remain largely untouched.
