The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has tasked district leaders across Northern Uganda to integrate environmental and natural resources management into their annual planning and budgeting processes to promote sustainable development.
The was during a capacity-building training held on April 8, 2026, at Hotel 360 Degrees, which brought together chief administrative officers, district planners, environment officers, and natural resource officers from 48 districts in the region.
Speaking at the training, NEMA Executive Director Barirega Akankwasah emphasized that environmental priorities must be treated as central components of district development planning rather than optional considerations.
He noted that mainstreaming Environment and Natural Resources Management (ENRM) into annual district plans is critical in addressing key challenges such as deforestation, wetland degradation, and the growing impacts of climate change.
NEMA officials guided participants on aligning district development frameworks with national environmental policies and incorporating practical budgeting approaches for environmental protection interventions.
The Authority stressed that stronger coordination between local governments and national agencies is essential to reversing environmental degradation and strengthening climate resilience at the community level.
Participants are expected to apply the knowledge gained to ensure environmental safeguards are fully integrated into district annual plans, a move NEMA says will support more sustainable and resilient development across Uganda.
