On a typical morning drive through Lukaya (Kampala- Mbarara highway), one might be struck by the endless stretch of lush green rice fields flanking both sides of the highway.
Cows graze between paddies, and the horizon ripples with activity as farmers bend over plots of land that, decades ago, were classified as wetlands. But beneath this pastoral scene lies a complex environmental puzzle, one that has tested the resolve of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Parliament alike.
During a recent appearance before Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee to defend the ministry’s policy statement and budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment, led by State Minister for Environment Beatrice Atim Anywar and NEMA Executive Director Barirega Akankwasa, found themselves pressed about the unchecked environmental degradation in Lukaya.
The grilling followed a passionate inquiry from Mitooma District Woman Member of Parliament, Juliet Agasha Bashiisha, who raised alarm over the expansive rice growing and illegal sand mining that are eating away the ecosystems.
A legal but costly practice
“Rice in Lukaaya is being grown on both sides of the road,” Akankwasa acknowledged. “Sometimes you’ll even find cows grazing where rice once stood. But rice farming in Lukaaya has become a major environmental issue.”
According to the NEMA boss, the challenge is not the presence of farming per se, but rather the legal complexity behind the land ownership. He explained that most of the land currently being cultivated for rice is privately owned and has been for decades.
“Some of these land titles date as far back as 1960,” he said. “Many of them list agriculture as the permitted use. So while the land lies in what would have been a wetland buffer, the owners are technically using it within the restrictions stated on their titles.”
As a result, NEMA is walking a tightrope: on one hand, it must uphold environmental laws; on the other, it must respect legitimate land tenure. The agency cannot simply order landowners off their property, even when the land is ecologically significant.
“The ultimate solution, if you ask me, is compulsory acquisition,” Akankwasa told MPs. “We need to buy back this land to restore it. But if we don’t have compensation money, then we must regulate its use, especially discouraging harmful practices like excessive chemical use.”
Until then, rice fields will continue to dominate the wetland areas in Lukaaya, a development that environmentalists warn could compromise biodiversity, water flow systems, and climate resilience in the region.
The sand mining conundrum
Beyond rice, Lukaya has also become a hotspot for sand mining, both legal and illegal. Once home to over 24 licensed sand mining companies in the nearby Lwera Wetland, the region has seen a sharp shift in recent years following regulatory interventions by NEMA.
“In 2021, we made a firm decision: no more sand mining licenses in wetlands,” Akankwasa said. “We haven’t issued or renewed a single one since.”
Today, only two valid permits exist for sand mining operations in the area. But despite the suspension, illegal sand extraction has flourished, especially in hard-to-reach parts of the wetland, far from the road and hidden from plain sight.
“We’ve arrested many, including foreign nationals like Chinese operators. We’ve prosecuted and imposed fines as high as sh500 million,” Akankwasa said. “But the demand for sand is high, and people are willing to risk everything to supply it.”
These unauthorized operations often dig deeper than permitted, disturb natural water tables, and operate without any environmental restoration plans. The environmental damage is immense, and the profits are even greater.
“If we don’t strengthen enforcement, we’re fighting a losing battle,” he warned.
A shortage of boots on the ground
Despite the urgent need for enforcement, NEMA faces significant capacity constraints. With only 44 environmental law enforcement officers for the entire country, the authority is stretched thin.
“We have 146 districts, and just 44 officers, which is inadequate,” Akankwasa said. “We rely heavily on the Uganda Police Force and support from ISO for real-time intelligence. But when it comes to responding swiftly, we’re lagging.”
He added that although community scouts could play a role in surveillance and reporting illegal activity, they cannot replace the expertise needed for technical tasks like conducting environmental impact assessments.
“You need highly specialized personnel to verify baselines like air quality, water chemistry, and soil conditions,” he explained. “These are not things a village scout can determine.”
Even with limited manpower, NEMA maintains a network of information channels through local governments and security agencies, allowing it to receive real-time alerts about environmental breaches across Uganda. “What we lack is the muscle to act instantly,” Akankwasa said.
NEMA collects sh11 billion fines
As Parliament grilled the Ministry on how it intends to turn the tide of degradation, one point stood out: the money collected from environmental violators could be the key to empowering district-level action.
In the past three years alone, NEMA has raised over sh11 billion from fines imposed on companies and individuals who breached environmental laws. These funds have been pooled under the National Environment Fund, which is now set to support local governments and frontline agencies.
“This sh11 billion is from fines, not donor funds or government grants,” Akankwasa clarified. “The plan is to use this money to empower districts to manage their environmental priorities. Disbursement is starting soon.”
If properly managed, the fund could enable struggling district environmental offices to hire staff, procure equipment, and mount public awareness campaigns. But MPs cautioned that such money must be used transparently and effectively.
“Communities need to feel the impact of this fund,” said MP Bashiisha. “Otherwise, it just becomes another figure in a report.”
More work ahead
State Minister for Environment Beatrice Anywar echoed the concerns raised by MPs and acknowledged that environmental enforcement cannot succeed without adequate resources.
“You cannot police wetlands and forests with only 44 officers,” she said. “We need Parliament to consider boosting the budget. If we lose our ecosystems, we lose everything: food, water, climate balance.”
Anywar also welcomed the establishment of the National Environment Fund and pledged to ensure accountability and community inclusion in its implementation.
“This is not just a NEMA issue. It’s a national survival issue,” she said. “We all need to act, legislators, agencies, and citizens alike.”
