Previous primate studies have concentrated on the effects of forest disturbance on primate populations residing mainly in natural forest reserves. The present study was conducted in 20 non‐reserved forest patches in the ‘Kampala area’, a forest‐savanna‐agricultural mosaic, to investigate the effects of forest fragmentation on the distribution and survival status of arboreal primates in the patches. Mpanga Forest Reserve, as the nearest to the forest patches, was used as a control. Primate census data revealed that the black‐and‐white colobus (Colobus guereza) was restricted in its distribution while redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti) were cosmopolitan. There was no significant relationship between forest patch size and red‐tail population size, number of groups and group density decreased. Of the trees sampled, 70% were food species while 30% were nonfood species. Basal area of food tree species significantly increased with forest patch size (R2 = 0.5885) but its relationship with red‐tail population size and group density (B = −0.42784, R2 = 0.18305, P > 0.05) was not significant.

The study was conducted in Mabira Forest Reserve, which is located between Kampala City and Jinja town (Uganda). The Reserve is predominantly occupied by tropical high forest communities of medium altitude moist semi‐deciduous and moist evergreen forest. The forest was greatly influenced by human activities but has been recovering since illegal settlement and encroachment were stopped between 1988 and 1989. An assessment of human activities within the forest was conducted (March–November 2004). Tree stumps were enumerated along transects established in different parts of the forest and the tree species cut identified from the stumps coppicing. Interviews were conducted around four village enclaves to establish forest product utilization. Timber extraction, tree harvesting for building poles, firewood and charcoal burning were common activities in addition to nontimber product utilization. Shoots and thin branches are cut daily for chicken and beef roasting. These activities degrade the forest, compromising its status as a reserve and destroy the habitat and its biodiversity. Drastic management measures are needed to check these activities so as to enhance its conservation status.

Foliage of Celtis durandii and Markhamia platycalyx are important foods of the red colobus (Colobus badius tephrosceles) and the black-and-white colobus (Colobus guereza occiden-tal~s) at Kanyaw~ra, Kibale Forest, Uganda. Seasonal variations in the chemical composition of this fohage were attnbuted to phenological changes. Moisture, crude protein, energy value, potassium, and phosphorus decreased, while acid detergent fiber, lignin, calcium and sodium increased with ad':'ancing matur.ity. Intermonthly changes in plant c~emistry of.M. platy~alyx were not so pronounced as m C . . durand11; the latter also gave strong correlatiOn among Its chemical components, while similar correlattons for M. platycalyx were generally weak. The nutrient quality of leaves from C. durandii was highest during the brief period when buds (leaf and flower), flowers, and young leaves were most abundant. With increasing maturity, these leaves lost the characteristics that made them good forage. M: platycalyx, on the contrary, had foliage with varying nutrient quality. Intermonthly dietary vari-atiOn ?f the colob~s monkeys is governed by the interactions between food consumption rate and changmg food quahty, together with the availability of alternative food items.

Private forests harbor considerable biodiversity, however, they are under greater threat than reserved areas, particularly from urbanization, agriculture, and intense exploitation for timber and fuel wood. The extent to which they may act as habitats for biodiversity and how level of protection impacts trends in biodiversity and forest structure over time remain underresearched. We contribute to filling this research gap by resampling a unique data set, a detailed survey from 1990 of 22 forests fragments of different ownership status and level of protection near Kampala, Uganda. Eleven of the 22 fragments were lost over 20 years, and six of the remnants reduced in size. Forest structure and composition also showed dramatic changes, with six of the remnant fragments showing high temporal species turnover. Species richness increased in four of the remaining forests over the resample period. Forest ownership affected the fate of the forests, with higher loss in privately owned forests. Our study demonstrates that ownership affects the fate of forest fragments, with private forests having both higher rates of area loss, and of structural and compositional change within the remaining fragments. Still, the private forests contribute to the total forest area, and they harbor biodiversity including IUCN “vulnerable” and “endangered” species. This indicates the conservation value of the fragments and suggests that they should be taken into account in forest conservation and restoration.

This study was conducted in the ‘Kampala area’, a forest‐savanna‐agricultural mosaic, and was aimed at investigating the ecology and survival of the red‐tail monkey, Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti in fragmented forest patches outside the protected area system. The relationship between habitat variables and red‐tail monkeys' distribution and other demographic factors were investigated. The average group size for red‐tail monkeys in the forest patches was 11.9, while that in Mpanga Forest Reserve it was 23.2. Most of the red‐tail monkey groups had breeding females but there were small populations with no breeding females. The number of breeding females and young varied in different forest patches with the breeding sex ratio ranging from 0 to 1:3. The residential status of red‐tails in the patches was partly influenced by the presence of the vervet monkey and the intensity of human activities in the vicinity.