Location and Regional Characteristics:

RCE Greater Eastern Uganda (GEURCE) is a network of member organisations ranging from local government to private sector and Non-government organisations (NGOs) that aims at creating interconnected, diverse communities living sustainably in eastern and northeastern Uganda. GEURCE covers 32 local government districts lying within Lake Victoria crescent, the southern-eastern Lake Kyoga basin, and Jinja-Mbale agro-ecological farmland zones of Uganda.

The population density in the region averages between 129–456 persons per square kilometres. Prominent natural features which surround the region include Mountain Elgon, Lake Kyoga, Lake Vitoria and River Nile. These provide sources of livelihood to the population, for example the Mountain Elgon foothills are endowed with fertile volcanic soils and a good climate which supports increased agricultural production. However, the mountain areas suffer from frequent landsides during heavy rains. The soils in other parts of the region are generally sandy, with low soil organic matter levels, are highly susceptible to leaching, and are consequently low in base saturation and rather acidic. As a result, agriculture in this region has shown that the productivity declines as the rapidly growing population overexploits its land resources, consequently resulting in recurrent food shortages and occasional famines. Urban centres are rapidly emerging in the region with the consequences of poor solid waste management which is hazardous, likely leading to the outbreak of diseases. Education standards have declined over time despite the introduction of free primary and secondary education by the government. In general, the performance and standard of education in the national examinations in the region are currently very low as evidenced by poor performance especially in rural areas in national examinations.