The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Executive Director, Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, has appealed to Ugandans to keep a clean and healthy environment as part of their constitutional duties.

Ankakwasah made these remarks during the passout of NEMA participants who completed a course at the National Institute of Leadership on August 21, 2024.

“This is a constitutional dictate, as stipulated in Article 39, that every citizen should create and protect a clean and healthy environment. It is our function, role, and duty as Ugandans to execute this task.

He said that Ugandans’ participation in conserving the environment will nurture the role of NEMA, which is to coordinate, supervise, monitor, and regulate the environment while catalyzing behavioral change in protecting the environment.

Dr. Ankakwasah said Vision 2024 Uganda, which is “A transformed Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years,” cannot be achieved without protecting the environment.

“The government has prioritized Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining (ATM’s) to achieve Vision 2024 in the next 5 years. We cannot have adequate water for irrigation if we do not conserve wetlands, forests, and water bodies. We cannot succeed in agriculture if we do not protect our natural resources,” he said.

The ED thanked President Museveni, who launched a 10-year restoration plan dubbed the “War on Environment” meant to reverse further environmental degradation and embark on environmental restoration.

Colonel Emmy Katabazi, the Deputy Director General of ISO, who was the chief guest at the closure of the course, appealed to participants to maintain the knowledge acquired at NALI and to ensure speed in execution of their tasks.

He thanked the ED NEMA for realizing the need to train staff and for also going through the course hand in hand, a gesture that shows great leadership.

Col. Katabazi encouraged NEMA to stand firm in conserving and protecting the environment without giving in to political pressure.

“Do not succumb to the political pressure of ideologically shallow people who do not want to see sustainable change. Some people have threatened you, but uphold your constitutional mandate for the betterment of Uganda,” he said.

Additionally, he hailed the leadership of NALI for their continued support towards the transformation of the country by training the leaders of today and tomorrow.