In the same vein of commemorating the recently concluded international world wetlands day 2025, which was celebrated globally under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,”. This underscores the urgent need for Uganda as a nation to reflect on both regional and national level efforts, gaps and bottlenecks in the conservation of these sensitive and vital ecosystems.
While historically these valuable ecosystems had been viewed as “wastelands subject to drainage”, they gained global recognition for their ecological significance, leading to the establishment of the Ramsar Convention in 1971 that came to force in Dec 21, 1975. The treaty provided for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands and wise sustainable use of their resources.
In 1988 Uganda became a member to the treaty and by that time the country had 11% of the total area being covered by wetlands which later rose to 15.5% in 1995 when national wetlands policy was passed and to date over 40 wetlands have been designated as International key Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) of which 12 are Ramsar sites.
The question is, where does Uganda stand now in wetland coverage? According to the national status report 2020 on the status of wetlands in Uganda, the rate of rapid loss of all wetlands is being accelerated in all regions of Uganda and are not matching the wetlands restoration targets and resources.
The report also highlighted that in the past 25 years, at regional level, 46% of wetlands in the Eastern region have been degraded, 21% degradation in northern region, 29% in central region and 28% degradation in western region. This has high levels of degradation have been compounded to high population rates, conversion of wetlands for developments in processes of urbanization and low enforcement of existing wetland polices at regional levels.
While the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has taken decisive action by suspending the consideration and issuance of project approvals within these critical wetland ecosystems, this enforcement must be just and non-selective if it’s to achieve the desired long term wetland restoration efforts.
NEMA also needs to monitor adherence to EIAs especially for EACOP oil developments operating within the vicinity of sensitive wetland ecosystem. The construction of the 1,443-kilometer Hoima-Tanga EACOP pipeline currently requires a 30-meter right-of-way. This construction process, which includes activities such as trench digging, backfilling, and other related tasks, may disrupt the hydrological cycle and water flow within the wetlands. In turn, this will pose a significant threat to these wetlands and their surrounding ecosystems and biodiversity. The wetlands are interconnected with essential water sources, including Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, and the Victoria Nile.
It is important to note that the water catchment areas directly affected by oil develepemnts conssits of Wambabya, Kafu, Nabakazi, Katonga, and Kibale-Bukora, which consist of extensive swamps across ten districts. While horizontal directional drilling is employed for river crossings, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) downplays the potential negative effects on the wetlands and the risks associated with insulation failure. Such failures could have serious consequences for biodiversity conservation. Uganda’s wetlands are home to a variety of aquatic species, hippos, and numerous bird species that are crucial for tourism.
.
Therefore, with the drastic decrease of wetland coverage from 15.5% to 8.9%, there is need for more urgent regional based actions and urgent needed for decisive actions to protect these essential ecosystems. The focus is on ensuring that their benefits are preserved for both current and future generations acknowledging their importance for climate mitigation. Proactive decisions must be fast tracked ahead of a deadly projection of further degradation and reduction of wetland acreages to 6% by 2040 which will present deadly climate change disasters at tipping point levels beyond management.
To secure the future of vulnerable communites against tipping effects of wetland degradation and destructive climate change impacts by 2040, Uganda as a nation must come up with regional based stringent action plans , sectors ambitious targets on wetland restorations and proactive measure to enforce all the existing polices with a non-selective conservation and restoration efforts. and conservation , it is essential to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. I urge concerned NGOs, the private sector, public institutions, local communities, and joint venture partners to adopt a balanced approach that integrates ecological preservation with sustainable development. This includes implementing sustainable agricultural practices to minimize wetland destruction, enforcing regulations against illegal land conversion and encroachment, raising community awareness about the importance of wetland conservation, and, most importantly, investing in restoration projects and establishing protected areas to ensure the long-term health of these ecosystems.
Elizabeth Kulume
