Top Environmental Agencies Forge United Front for Sustainability

The Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting with executives from the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to bolster inter-agency collaboration on environmental sustainability in Uganda.

Held at NEMA headquarters in Kampala, the engagement brought together NFA Executive Director Stuart Maniraguha and NWSC Managing Director Silver Mugisha for a strategic dialogue on the sustainable management of Uganda’s natural resources.

The leaders discussed a range of pressing environmental issues, including forest conservation, protection of water sources, and climate resilience, with a shared resolve to align their institutional mandates for stronger collective impact.

“This engagement reflects our shared commitment to work together in protecting Uganda’s environment and ensuring the sustainable use of our natural resources,” said Dr Akankwasah.

The meeting, which comes amid growing environmental pressures such as deforestation and pollution, highlighted the urgency of coordinated efforts among state agencies in safeguarding Uganda’s ecological assets.

All three institutions acknowledged the interdependence of their mandates and the importance of a united approach in implementing national environmental goals.

Stuart Maniraguha, who took over as NFA Executive Director earlier this year, reaffirmed the forestry body’s openness to strategic partnerships.

“We believe that environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility. Working closely with NEMA and NWSC will enhance our efforts to restore and protect forest cover across the country,” he said.

Dr Mugisha, who has led NWSC’s water and sanitation drive for over a decade, emphasised the link between healthy ecosystems and water security.

“Protecting water sources goes hand in hand with forest conservation. Together, we can deliver real impact for present and future generations,” he said.

The leaders identified cross-cutting areas for collaboration, including joint restoration initiatives, public education on conservation, enforcement of environmental laws, and data sharing for improved monitoring of natural resources.

They also discussed integrating environmental sustainability into broader national development planning, in line with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the third National Development Plan.

The dialogue signals a shift toward more coordinated environmental governance in Uganda, where overlapping institutional roles have sometimes led to fragmentation.

By building bridges between agencies, the officials hope to scale up impact and foster a culture of shared responsibility across sectors.

At the close of the meeting, the three executives pledged to maintain regular engagements and strengthen operational synergies between their institutions.

They committed to developing joint frameworks for implementation, particularly in areas where natural resource protection intersects with public health, infrastructure, and community livelihoods.

Uganda continues to face significant environmental challenges, including a declining forest cover estimated at less than 10 percent of the country’s total land area, increasing pollution in water bodies, and escalating vulnerability to climate change.

NEMA, NFA and NWSC play pivotal roles in addressing these crises, and Tuesday’s meeting marks a step toward deepened collaboration aimed at reversing ecological degradation and securing sustainable development.