environment 23 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda ends wetland amnesty, warns encroachers and enablers
Minister Kahinda Otafiire has declared an end to the grace period for wetland encroachers in Uganda, vowing to prosecute not only those occupying the land but also public officials enabling the destruction. The government is shifting to a no-mercy approach to protect fragile ecosystems. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/no-more-mercy-otafiire-launches-crackdown-on-wetland-encroachers-enablers-5506116
The Ugandan government has officially ended its amnesty for individuals and entities encroaching on vital wetlands, signaling a significant shift towards stricter environmental enforcement. Minister of Water and Environment, General Kahinda Otafiire, announced that there will be no further leniency for those destroying the nation’s fragile ecosystems.
“If you are not a fish, a frog, a hippo, and a crocodile, what are you doing in the wetland?” General Otafiire rhetorically asked during the third National Environment Sustainability Awards (NESA) 2026 in Kampala. He stressed that the crackdown would extend to public officials who facilitate or permit illegal wetland occupation and destruction.
The minister emphasized that wetland degradation carries severe consequences, impacting water security, public health, and the well-being of future generations. He highlighted that wetlands play a crucial role in filtering pollutants, and their destruction leads to contaminated water sources, eventually entering the food chain.
Supporting the minister’s stance, Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi-Ego framed climate change not just as an environmental issue but as a significant threat to macroeconomic and financial stability. He warned that climate shocks lead to decreased agricultural yields, impassable infrastructure, increased business costs, and strained public finances, ultimately affecting corporate balance sheets and financial institutions.
Dr. Barirega Akankwasa, Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), echoed the urgency, describing environmental degradation as an existential threat. He noted that while Uganda has seen some recovery in forest and wetland cover due to NEMA’s enhanced monitoring and restoration efforts, significant encroachment persists.
The NESA awards also highlighted innovations in environmental sustainability, recognizing efforts in waste conversion, green financing, and ecosystem restoration. However, the overarching message remained clear: the era of tolerance for wetland encroachment is over, and accountability will be pursued rigorously for both perpetrators and their enablers.
This report is based on information from the Daily Monitor.