Uganda's Environment Ministry Seeks Over 1,500 Rangers Amidst Enforcement Gaps

The Ministry of Water and Environment has highlighted a pressing need for more than 1,500 environmental rangers. These additional personnel are crucial for safeguarding the nation’s wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores, and central forest reserves from degradation and encroachment.

The current enforcement efforts are primarily shouldered by a limited contingent of 238 police officers, creating a substantial deficit in the ministry’s capacity to patrol and protect these vital ecosystems. Permanent Secretary Alfred Okidi revealed this challenge during a session with the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government).

Beyond environmental enforcement, other departments within the ministry are also operating below optimal staffing levels. The climate change department functions at less than 30 percent of its required capacity, while the forestry sector is at approximately 35-40 percent. Okidi attributed these shortages, in part, to inadequate funding, difficulties in land acquisition, and the overarching impacts of climate change.

“We do not get the money to meet these mandates,” Okidi stated, explaining that the ministry receives no more than 40 percent of the financial resources needed to fulfill its strategic plan, the Fourth National Development Plan, and government manifesto commitments.

Despite these challenges, the ministry reported that forest coverage currently stands at 13.2 percent and wetland coverage at 19.3 percent. Progress has also been made in water coverage, with rural access at 72 percent and urban access at 73 percent, ensuring most villages have a reliable water source.

However, the committee raised concerns about extending water infrastructure to rapidly growing urban centers. Questions were posed regarding the frequency of urban mapping and the planning for water supply extensions to meet burgeoning demand. The ministry acknowledged these issues and plans to address the water supply scheme in Kasanda within the current financial year.

Furthermore, Okidi emphasized the importance of increasing tree cover to help communities better adapt to changing environmental conditions and mitigate the effects of climate change. The need for preparedness, particularly for extreme weather events like El Niño, was also raised by committee members concerned about the vulnerability of communities in highland areas.

This report is based on information from the Parliament of Uganda.