The Ministry of Water and Environment has revealed that Uganda has lost 6.3% of intact wetlands to unsustainable urban growth, agriculture, over-harvesting, pollution, and over-exploitation of wetland resources.
David Okurut, the Acting Director-Environment Affairs made these remarks while addressing journalists on Tuesday, January 29, 2025, at Uganda Media Center (UMC).
According to Okurut, it’s a wake-up call to implement conservation measures and take serious action to prevent further deterioration.
“Despite the essential ecosystem service, that wetlands provide we continue to lose Wetlands at an alarming rate. Whereas Uganda boasted of 15.6% Wetland coverage in 1994 to date, we have only been left with 9.3% as intact Wetland,” he stated.
He underscored the significance of protecting wetlands, saying that doing so is essential to guaranteeing food and water security, which in turn builds resilient communities and robust economies.
“Wetland ecosystems play a critical role in mitigating the impact of extreme weather events, supporting tourism where they are habitats to key biodiversity and are vital breeding grounds for fish hence, enhancing local fisheries,” Okurut said.
However, according to Okurut, the government has taken several actions to halt the continued deterioration of wetlands, such as gazetted all wetlands totaling 8,614 wetlands in the country, and canceled over 330 titles among other measures.
Uganda will join the rest of the world in commemorating World Wetlands Day on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Katerera Ground Rubirizi District under the theme, “Conserving Wetlands Today for a Secure Tomorrow”.
