NEMA meets central region MDA heads on 2025 Environment Report

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OPINION

By Sharot Akatukwatsa

In response to the Executive Director’s compelling remarks on the National State of the Environment Report (NSoER), 2024, we, the representatives of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the Central Region, wish to express our full alignment with his urgent call for deeper integration of environmental sustainability into the core of national development processes.

Dr Barirega Akankwasah’s emphasis on embedding environmental considerations not as an afterthought but as a foundational element during policy formulation, budgeting, and implementation resonates deeply with our collective mandate.

The NSoER 2025 does more than present data; it offers a sobering diagnosis of our environmental health while simultaneously charting a hopeful course forward through documented successes such as the notable increase in forest cover from 9% in 2009 to 13.3% in 2025, and the ongoing restoration of critical ecosystems like the Lubigi wetland.

Recognising that environmental stewardship transcends institutional silos, we reaffirm our shared and indivisible responsibility to protect Uganda’s rich natural heritage. This means moving beyond passive compliance to proactive leadership in ensuring that every sectoral decision, whether in transport, agriculture, urban development, health, or education, accounts for its ecological footprint. To this end, we are committed to systematically mainstreaming environmental safeguards into institutional policies, strategic plans, and annual performance frameworks.

We intensify collaboration with NEMA, the Ministry of Water and Environment, local governments, civil society, and the private sector to harmonise efforts and close implementation gaps. Furthermore, we pledge to rigorously enforce existing environmental laws against harmful practices such as wetland encroachment, unregulated pesticide use, open burning, and the indiscriminate disposal of plastic and other waste.

Equally important is the resolve to champion sustainable alternatives promoting biodegradable materials, supporting circular economy models, and investing in modern, environmentally sound waste management infrastructure.

Finally, we recognise the immense value of nature-based solutions; therefore, we actively support and scale up ecosystem restoration initiatives, including reforestation, wetland rehabilitation, and biodiversity conservation, as cost-effective and resilient strategies for climate adaptation and sustainable development.

The launch of the NSoER 2025 during the World Environment Day celebrations in Kabale was a timely reminder that environmental integrity is not a luxury but a prerequisite for national security, public well-being, and intergenerational equity. We stand united in the determination to transform the evidence and recommendations of this report into tangible, on-the-ground action because a thriving environment is the bedrock upon which Uganda’s social and economic future must be built.

Read the Full Version at www.nema.go.ug.

The Writer is A Master of Business Administration Student of Makerere University Business School