Are Uganda’s environment agencies still functioning?

Sep 02, 2011

WHILE I appreciate the work done by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the ministry of water and environment, KCCA, land commissions and the wetlands management division, there are number of incidences that undo the efforts of these agencies. For example,

By Innocent Nabwire

WHILE I appreciate the work done by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the ministry of water and environment, KCCA, land commissions and the wetlands management division, there are number of incidences that undo the efforts of these agencies. For example,

  • There is continued and rampant pollution of the water bodies as a result of industrial and domestic sewage effluents that undermine water quality. This is a contributor to the high incidences and prevalence of diseases.

  • There is encroachment of wetlands which leaves one wondering whether these institutions do exist. Wetlands are now battle grounds by communities, the “investors” and national development project.

  • Buildings in the city are constructed in road blinds and road reserves; have no adequate parking; their sewerage systems are questionable, yet they are sanctioned by our civil engineers and other officials in the Government and KCCA. Somebody should convince us that all that has happened was an oversight on the part of or not the fault of the officials concerned;

  • Motor vehicles with high emissions levels are allowed to ply the city leaving behind a plume of duty smoke. Should we then complain when our children suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma?


  • Posterity will not forgive us for the mess we have created. We may console ourselves that this was for the sake of creating jobs, but we still see high levels of unemployment.

    We need to rethink our development pathway as a country and as people, if sustainable development is going to be achieved.


    Writer is the Programme Officer WGI

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