Ministry of Water and Environment Seeks Over 1,500 Rangers

The Ministry of Water and Environment has highlighted an urgent need to recruit more than 1,500 environmental rangers to safeguard Uganda’s critical natural resources, including wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores, and central forest reserves.

Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Hon. Patrick Oshabe, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alfred Okidi, revealed that current enforcement relies heavily on just 238 police officers for patrols. This creates a massive void in protecting the environment against illegal encroachment and destruction.

Okidi pointed out that staffing shortages are not limited to enforcement alone. The climate change department is operating at under 30 percent capacity, while forestry staffing stands between 35 and 40 percent. According to the ministry, severe budget constraints, land acquisition hurdles, and climate change are compounding these challenges. Okidi noted that the ministry receives less than 40 percent of the funding outlined in its strategic plan and the Fourth National Development Plan.

Despite these hurdles, the ministry reported progress in other sectors, with rural water coverage at 72 percent, urban coverage at 73 percent, and 82 percent of villages possessing at least one reliable water source. However, lawmakers raised concerns regarding rapid urbanization, pressing the ministry on its preparedness for emerging towns and disaster risks in highland regions during extreme weather events like El Niño.

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