Why Ugandans Must Push for a Bigger NEMA Budget

By William Lubuulwa

Uganda is a country of breathtaking beauty. It is a land where bright green forests used to buzz with life, and where wetlands cradled an abundance of wildlife while shielding humanity from floods.

But something is fast changing. The hills that once stood proud in lush greenery now bear the ugly scars of deforestation. The wetlands, nature’s own water filters and flood control systems, are vanishing under concrete and careless human expansion. Our lakes, once teeming with fish, are choking on plastic waste. And the weather – oh my, the weather! Once predictable and kind, it now punishes us with unrelenting droughts, heartless floods, and unbearable heat.

Yet, there is one institution fighting to reverse this tragic tide – the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). With limited funding and an insistent spirit, NEMA is waging a war to protect Uganda’s natural heritage, enforcing environmental laws, restoring degraded ecosystems, and educating the public on why we must stop treating our environment like an afterthought. But here’s the bitter truth: NEMA is punching far above its weight with the paltry resources at its disposal. If we truly care about our future, if we want to leave behind a Uganda where our children can still marvel at the beauty of nature, then we must all rally behind a bigger budget for NEMA.

Ugandans everywhere are already paying the price for environmental neglect. The farmers in Moroto who can no longer count on the rains, the traders in Kampala whose businesses flood every rainy season, the fishermen on Lake Victoria who return with empty nets, and the children in congested slums coughing from polluted air – all are victims of environmental degradation. The statistics tell a grim story: Uganda has lost over 70% of its wetlands to encroachment, its forest cover has plummeted from 24% in 1990 to less than 9% today, and Kampala alone generates more than 2,000 tonnes of waste daily, much of it left to rot in drainage channels, turning roads into rivers of filth every time the heavens open.

Light in the Dark

Amid the aforementioned harshness, there is a glimmer of hope. NEMA’s ongoing wetland restoration projects in Lubigi or Kaliddubi, and recently Nambigirwa are starting to prove that nature can heal if given the chance. Where makeshift houses and plastic waste once dominated, papyrus reeds have started to sway gracefully in the wind. Birds that had long fled the chaos because of encroachment, for instance around the Busega Roundabout on Mityana Road, have returned with songs filling the morning air with chants of victory. Save for the illegal returnees who want to disturb the peace of the wetlands, water that once stood stagnant and filthy now flows freely, filtering itself as it meanders to continue sustaining us. In Lubigi, the restored wetland is already starting to show its power. Already there are signs that flooding in parts of Kampala and Wakiso, even with their clogged systems, will begin to be controlled. In Nambigirwa, the rejuvenated wetland is quietly working to purify water before it reaches Lake Victoria, ensuring that the very source of life for millions of people remains viable.

But make no mistake. These successes are only the beginning, and they can only be sustained if NEMA is given the financial muscle to expand this work. Imagine a Uganda where every degraded wetland is restored, where forests are protected with the same vigilance as national treasures, where industries are held accountable for their waste, and where waste management is no longer a second thought but a national priority. This future is possible, but only if we put our money where our mouths are.

Improved Financial Backing Needed

Let’s talk about the money. Some might argue that Uganda has other pressing financial priorities. But consider this: Today, Uganda’s eco-tourism sector alone generates more than $1.6 billion annually. The moment we lose our forests, our wetlands, and our wildlife, we lose a key economic pillar. Moreover, poor waste management and pollution-related diseases are costing Ugandans billions of Shillings in healthcare expenses every year. A well-funded NEMA would translate into fewer environmental disasters, reduced disease outbreaks, and a stronger economy built on sustainability rather than destruction. NEMA’s miserly provision needs to be more than doubled as the current UGX 40 billion is just around 33% of the institution’s annual monetary requirement.

Of course, a bigger budget for NEMA would mean more elaborate smiles from the gallant men and women doing Ugandans a great service in environment management. These dedicated environmental warriors wake up every day to battle pollution, encroachment, and the reckless destruction of our natural resources. They do this with passion, resilience, and – let us be honest – often on a shoestring budget. Imagine what they could accomplish with the right amount of resources! Picture a NEMA House where the enforcement officers have the latest technology at their disposal, where public awareness campaigns reach every corner of Uganda, where wetland restorations become the norm rather than a desperate effort to save what is left. The environmental defenders at NEMA deserve more than just appreciation. They deserve unending applause and financial backing to truly transform Uganda’s future.

Should We Spend More?

The question is simple: do we want to invest in environmental protection now, or do we want to keep spending more money dealing with preventable disasters in the future? The answer should be obvious even to my 6-year old daughter. You and me have the right answer. A bigger budget for NEMA is not a luxury, and not a pot of gold for the staff. It is an investment in clean air, safe water, stable agriculture, thriving environment, a self-sustaining economy, and above all, a healthier Uganda.

The time for complacency is over. Every Ugandan – whether a farmer in Teso, a fisherman in Katosi, a shopkeeper in Ntungamo, or a boda boda rider in Kawempe – must demand that more money, I mean real money, is allocated to NEMA. But there is an alternative if we want: sit back and watch as our wetlands disappear, our forests are reduced to charcoal, and our future is buried under heaps of uncollected garbage.

Having said that, I still believe that a vote for a bigger budget for NEMA is not just for the Authority’s sake, but for ourselves as Ugandans. Because at the end of the day, a thriving environment is not a favour NEMA is doing for us. It is our right and desired future.

Mr. Lubuulwa is the Senior Public Relations Officer at NEMA.