Why Aswa’s fragile ecosystems spell doom for northeastern Uganda

For the last 16 years, a group of more than 700 smallholder farmers have been growing yams, rice, and sugarcane along the bank of River Olupe Opong in Geregere sub-county, in Agago District. Unfortunately, their desperate search for alternative livelihoods to recover from the effects of climatic variations in the Lango sub-region, has led to the degradation of this critical ecosystem. 

The Olupe Opong riverbank forms part of the fragile Aswa River Basin, which is home to a dense network of seasonal and permanent marshes. Others are Adungo riverbank in Kapelebyong and Amuria…