After the staff of our former country office in Indonesia founded the independent Good Forest Indonesia Foundation last year, Uganda has now taken the same step: the Good Forest Uganda Foundation, or GFU, was officially established just recently.
A major milestone
On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the launch of the GFU was celebrated at the Timber Innovation Center in Kampala. More than 50 long-standing partners who have played an important role in shaping Fairventures Worldwide’s work in Uganda joined the event.
The GFU is the result of a long process. Fairventures Worldwide has closely supported the team in Kampala in building an independent, locally led organization. The foundation was legally registered in August 2025. With the official launch event in December, this important step was now publicly announced.
The hand-over from Fairventures Worldwide Uganda to the GFU is more than a formal change. It reflects our aim to transfer responsibilities to local structures and enable shared decision-making. We previously took the same step in Indonesia.
From a three-person team to an independent organization
Since 2018, the country office of Fairventures Worldwide in Uganda has worked towards a clear goal: strengthening smallholder farmers through reforestation and sustainable value chains. When the work began, the team consisted of only three staff members, including James Thembo. Today the forestry graduate leads the GFU and its team of 45 employees.
“We are honored to continue this legacy,” says James Thembo from GFU. “Our goal is to build on the strong foundations laid by Fairventures Uganda and to accelerate efforts toward a greener, more resilient Uganda. This move also helps create a foundation for effective, long-term, trusted partnerships within the country.”
How this step strengthens our collaboration
The change to the GFU is not a separation, but a strengthening of our collaboration.
Susan Maraka and James Thembo will now represent the GFU instead of Fairventures Worldwide Uganda on the Global Management Team of FVW. This means that both the GFU and GFI now have two representatives on the committee. All eight members have equal voting rights. While this may seem unusual, for us it is a logical step toward genuine cooperation. We believe that strong results grow from trust, practical experience, and local knowledge.
The teams in Uganda, Indonesia, and Germany will continue to work closely together within departments such as communications and finance. There is especially active exchange on best practices and shared challenges between the teams in Uganda and Indonesia.
With this structure in place, the team in Stuttgart can now focus more strongly on attracting new supporters and further developing the Good Forest Network.
Good Forests Are Climate Solutions
Our shared vision remains unchanged: good forests provide climate protection, create habitats, and offer economic opportunities. They strengthen the resilience of local communities, promote sustainable land use, and deliver long-term, lasting solutions.
With the establishment of the GFU, this vision is now placed on a new and solid foundation in Uganda. The organization will be able to raise its own funds and form new local partnerships.
We are delighted to close 2025 with this positive news from Uganda and look ahead to 2026 with confidence, continuing to advance our vision of good forests being climate solutions.