Ugly Valentine: How ‘Fairtrade’ Roses Ravage Uganda’s Wetlands

Uganda’s flower industry, a major export earner, is thriving—but at a significant environmental and human cost.

This investigative project explores how self-regulation has allowed flower farms, many located along the ecologically sensitive shores of Lake Victoria, to operate with little oversight, leading to pollution, chemical misuse, and worker exploitation. Reporting uncovers the environmental damage caused by the industry, the hazardous working conditions, and the powerful networks behind these farms.

Using satellite imagery, trade data, and interviews with workers, officials, and industry insiders, this project exposes the hidden costs of Uganda’s booming floral trade on the lake’s ecosystem and local communities.