Uganda Project

Prior to the NZCSA, Uganda had put in place basic institutional arrangements and procedures for inventory compilation. The Climate Change Department (CCD, Ministry of Water and Environment) had signed an MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF) for data sharing, and MAAIF had appointed a focal person responsible for data compilation for the agriculture sector, including livestock. The existing inventory used the Tier 1 method. The focal person and some other MAAIF staff had a good understanding of the general concept of GHG mitigation, having been involved in desk-based assessments by FAO and a UNDP-supported concept note for investment in low-emission dairy sector development. A national expert from Makerere University had also begun research on cattle energy needs.

Support was provided in two phases. The objective of the first phase was to support Uganda to develop a GHG inventory for cattle using the IPCC Tier 2 method. The second phase aimed to further improve data for priority inventory needs and to strengthen the capacity of relevant institutions to regularly compile and sustainably manage the Tier 2 cattle GHG inventory.

• GHG inventory improvement: A Tier 2 inventory for GHG emissions from dairy and non-dairy cattle has been compiled. A first phase of support compiled an initial inventory based on available data and necessarily had to rely on expert judgement for some important input variables. A second phase of support involved a large-scale sample survey of cattle herds in the agro-pastoral production system which dominates the country’s cattle sector. The Tier 2 inventory was updated using the new data obtained. It will be included in Uganda’s next BTR submission.

• Institutional arrangements and capacities for inventory management and improvement: The initial Tier 2 inventory compilation involved a range of stakeholders in consultations and data provision. This served to raise awareness of cattle GHG emissions and the inventory’s data needs. However, staff changes in CCD and MAAIF limited the ability of the first phase of activity to embed inventory compilation tasks in relevant agencies. The second phase included training in inventory updating and engaged stakeholders in elaborating SOPs for regular compilation of the Tier 2 inventory. SOPs were drafted, but allocation of specific staff to the roles specified requires ongoing discussion in MAAIF and CCD. The household survey provided national agencies and experts with a tool that can be used for future data collection activities to support continuous improvement of the cattle GHG inventory.

An improved inventory to support development of further policies and measures in the livestock sector: GHG mitigation in Uganda’s cattle sector is receiving significant attention. Uganda is involved in the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero programme being developed by IFAD, FAO and the International Dairy Federation with Green Climate Fund financing; an EU-funded project has been investigating low-emission options in the beef value chain in one part of the country; and Makerere University, ILRI and other research institutes have begun cattle GHG emission research. The Tier 2 inventory provides a good evidence-base for understanding sources of emission in the sector and identifying GHG mitigation options to inform policy and investment. The Tier 2 inventory is better able to track changes in GHG emissions due to future policies and measures. Researchers from Makerere and the National Agriculture Research Organisation now have a better understanding of the data required to improve the inventory and investigate mitigation options. Some of these potentials will be pursued through the new 6-year Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP) funded by the World Bank.