We are committed to ensuring sustainable management of Uganda's water and environment resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Our mission is to promote and ensure the rational and sustainable utilization of water and environment resources for socio-economic development.
Our Mission Statement:
To promote efficient and effective utilization of water and environment resources for a healthy, wealthy and climate resilient population
Vision Statement:
Transformed Ugandan Society with environment and natural resources sustainably managed.
Minister of Water & Environment
Minister of State for Environment
Minister of State for Water
Minister of Water & Environment
Minister of State for Environment
Minister of State for Water
Local government leaders fr...
The Ministry of Water and Environment through the Department of Meteorological Services has launched...
Government, German Partners Inspect Karamoja Water Projects The Ministry of Water and Environme...
EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGY: MINISTRY OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENT’S INNOVATIVE WATER PROJECT EXCITES NTUNG...
The Joint Water and Environment Sector Support Programme (JWESSP) was a comprehensive and strategic initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Water and Environment, spanning from 2013 to 2018. This programme represented a significant step towards achieving sustainable management of Uganda’s water and environmental resources, contributing directly to the country’s national development goals, including poverty eradication, improved health, and socio-economic transformation. JWESSP was designed as a sector-wide approach, fostering strong collaboration among government entities, development partners, and local communities to deliver integrated water and environmental services across the nation.Key Objectives and Achievements:JWESSP focused on several critical areas, yielding substantial positive impacts across the water and environment sector:Improved Access to Safe Water: The programme significantly contributed to increasing access to safe and clean water sources in both rural and urban areas. This involved the construction and rehabilitation of boreholes, protected springs, piped water systems, and rainwater harvesting facilities, directly improving the health and well-being of millions of Ugandans.Achieved an increase in national safe water coverage.Reduced incidence of waterborne diseases in targeted communities.Example Achievement: Construction of [Number] new boreholes in [Specific Regions/Districts].Enhanced Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion: Complementing water supply efforts, JWESSP invested heavily in promoting improved sanitation and hygiene practices. This included the construction of improved latrines in schools and public places, and extensive community sensitization campaigns on sanitation ladder principles, handwashing, and safe waste disposal.Increased household latrine coverage and improved hygiene behaviors.Improved sanitation facilities in hundreds of schools.Example Achievement: Over [Number] communities declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.Sustainable Water Resources Management: A core component of JWESSP was strengthening the sustainable management of Uganda’s vital water resources. This involved developing and implementing Catchment Management Plans, monitoring water quality and quantity, and strengthening regulatory frameworks for water abstraction and pollution control.Establishment and operationalization of [Number] Water Management Zones/Catchment Management Organizations.Improved data collection and analysis for informed water resource planning.Example Achievement: Development of the [Specific Catchment Name] Catchment Management Plan.Environmental Management and Restoration: The programme made significant strides in environmental protection, conservation, and restoration. This included initiatives in wetland restoration, sustainable land management practices, afforestation and re-afforestation efforts, and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.Rehabilitation of [Number] hectares of degraded wetlands.Tree planting campaigns across various districts.Example Achievement: Development of [Specific Policy/Guideline] for sustainable environmental management.Strengthened Sector Coordination and Capacity Building: JWESSP played a crucial role in enhancing the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Water and Environment and local governments. This involved training staff, improving planning and monitoring systems, and fostering better coordination among all sector stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.Improved inter-agency collaboration within the water and environment sector.Enhanced technical skills of MWE staff and local government officials.Example Achievement: Development of the [Specific Reporting System/Framework] for sector performance monitoring.Impact and Legacy: The JWESSP significantly contributed to the achievements outlined in Uganda’s National Development Plans during its operational period. Its integrated approach led to more holistic and sustainable interventions in water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental management. The programme laid a robust foundation for subsequent sector interventions and policies, leaving a lasting legacy of improved infrastructure, strengthened capacity, and a heightened awareness of sustainable water and environmental resource management among Ugandans. The lessons learned from JWESSP continue to inform ongoing and future projects within the Ministry of Water and Environment, ensuring a continuous commitment to a water-secure and environmentally sustainable Uganda.
ICRPProject OverviewThe Irrigation for Climate Resilience Project (ICRP) aims to support the shift towards more resilient agriculture through the development of sustainable irrigation services. Access to irrigation is critical to allow farmers coping with climate variability, to increase yield and intensification, and diversify towards higher value crops. The project will address Uganda’s climate change vulnerabilities by: (i) promoting adoption of irrigation by smallholder farmers, in synergy with other agriculture inputs and technologies; (ii) increasing water storage capacity; and (iii) promoting sustainable catchment management. This change will be market-driven, with irrigation becoming the anchor for stronger producer organizations and development of value chains.The project is implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) as technical implementation partner.Project Development ObjectivesTo provide farmers with access to irrigation and other agricultural services, and to establish management arrangements for irrigation service delivery.
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REDD+ is an acronym for Reducing of Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation. The plus sign (+) stands for the role of Conservation, Sustainable Forest Management and Enhancement of Carbon Stocks (REDD+). The (+) enhances the land’s capacity for carbon storage through activities that improve forest health. In addition to carbon stocks being protected by avoiding forest damage and or clearing of entire forests, measures such as better forest management, conservation, restoration, and afforestation also increase carbon stocks. Read the Redd+ Programme writeup in the publications on this page.Biomass Degradation in Uganda-Annex 9Uganda has a rich source of data from a variety of forest inventories that have been conducted over the last twenty years and therefore is fortunate enough to be able to analyse the occurrence of forest degradation in some of the inventory sites that have been revisited over the years.Resettlement Process Framework for Uganda’s National REDD+ Strategy and Action PlanUganda has completed drafting its National REDD+ Strategy and Implementation Plan, Feedback Grievance and Redress Mechanism (FGRM), Benefit Sharing Arrangements (BSA), Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), and the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). The implementation of REDD+ National strategy as a long-term measure for tackling deforestation and forest degradation, while meeting the demands for wood, energy and other forest products may come with displacement of people. Some of the REDD+ options may cause displacements; it is therefore necessary to have a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) to provide guidance.Safeguards Information System for National REDD+Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed at the Conference of Parties (COP) in Cancun in December 2010 to promote and support seven safeguards when undertaking REDD+ activities and requested countries to develop a system for providing information on how these safeguards are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of REDD+ activities. Uganda is developing a Safeguards Information System (SIS) to meet this commitmentIndigenous Peoples’ Planning Framework June 2021The realization of REDD+ Strategies in Uganda requires inclusion and participation of every stakeholder that matters, affected or may be affected. However, the inclusion and participation of the forest dependent indigenous peoples (FDIP) tend to be very limited in the current planning processes. In view of this, what would be very important for FDIP, and have impacts in their livelihoods and rights are either not captured or addressed inappropriately.Process Framework for Implementation of Uganda’s National REDD+ ProgrammeAs per the World Bank environmental and social risks screening, the Government of Uganda is required to develop a Process Framework (PF). A process framework is prepared when Bank-supported projects may cause restrictions in access to natural resources in legally designated protected areas. The purpose of the process framework is to establish a process by which members of potentially affected communities participate in design of project components, determination of measures necessary to achieve the objectives of ESS5 (see box below), and implementation and monitoring of relevant project activities.Feedback and Grievance Redress MechanismA Grievance refers to a complaint, a feeling of dissatisfaction, an injustice, a wrong doing, an accusation, or criticism. It may include queries, suggestions and comments. A grievance may be mistaken to be “a case”, however, the two concepts are different. A case is a question contested before Courts of justice or an equivalent legal process.
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The project is funded by the Adaptation Fund through the Sahara and Sahel Observatory. The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers and pastoralists to climate change risks mainly those related to drought, through the establishment of appropriate early warning systems and implementation of drought adaptation actions in the IGAD region. The project targets to consolidate synergies and adopt innovative and resilient drought management actions from selected IGAD region countries including Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. More specifically, this project is intended to strengthen the drought resilience of smallholder farmers and pastoralists by:Developing and promoting regional investments in early drought warning systems (EWS) and improving the existing ones.Strengthening and improving the capacity of key stakeholders in drought risk management at regional, national and local levels.Facilitating smallholder farmers and pastoralists inputs to undertake innovative adaptation actions that reinforce their resilience to drought.Enhancing knowledge management and information sharing on drought resilience at the considered levels.Project implementation arrangementsThe project is implemented in collaboration with mandated institutions, such as the Department of Meteorology (MWE), the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and Nabuin Zonal Agriculture Research and Development Institute (ZARDI).DRESSEA Project Area:Moroto (All sub counties), Napak (Ngolereit, Matany, Lopeei, Lotome, and Lokopo), and Nabilatuk (Lorengedwat)Estimated Project Cost: USH 9,236,379,840Project Duration, 4 years, launched in 2021 at national level, now in extension period.Project Coordinator:Name: Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner, Water Resources Planning and RegulationMobile Phone: 0772521413Email: Callist.tindimugaya@mwe.go.ugAchievements2 weather stations have been installed in Moroto (Rupa) and Napak (Matany).1 Early Warning Information Center has been renovated and equipped at the Department of Meteorology.Non-Smart Phones and solar radios have been distributed to 115 farmer groups to improve their access to early warning information.Drought Management Plan and Emergency Response Plan has been prepared for Lokere Catchment.115 farmer groups have been trained in drought adaptation measures and provided with seeds and seedlings of drought tolerant crop varieties.4 water harvesting structures have been constructed in Moroto (Lotisan and Tapac), Napak (Lopeei and Lokopo).Soil and water conservation measures have been implemented in Moroto, Napak, and Nabilatuk to improve crop productivity.3 water boreholes have been protected following the guidelines for the protection of groundwater sources.Impact:Early waring information sharing and feedback collection meetingsInnovative soil on farm soil and water conservation techniques in Vegetable growing in Katikekile Sub CountyPerma-gardens in Moroto (Nakonyen and Lotisan)Distribution of seeds in Lokopo Sub County
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The Joint Water and Environment Sector Support Programme (JWESSP) was a comprehensive and strategic initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Water and Environment, spanning from 2013 to 2018. This programme represented a significant step towards achieving sustainable management of Uganda’s water and environmental resources, contributing directly to the country’s national development goals, including poverty eradication, improved health, and socio-economic transformation. JWESSP was designed as a sector-wide approach, fostering strong collaboration among government entities, development partners, and local communities to deliver integrated water and environmental services across the nation.Key Objectives and Achievements:JWESSP focused on several critical areas, yielding substantial positive impacts across the water and environment sector:Improved Access to Safe Water: The programme significantly contributed to increasing access to safe and clean water sources in both rural and urban areas. This involved the construction and rehabilitation of boreholes, protected springs, piped water systems, and rainwater harvesting facilities, directly improving the health and well-being of millions of Ugandans.Achieved an increase in national safe water coverage.Reduced incidence of waterborne diseases in targeted communities.Example Achievement: Construction of [Number] new boreholes in [Specific Regions/Districts].Enhanced Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion: Complementing water supply efforts, JWESSP invested heavily in promoting improved sanitation and hygiene practices. This included the construction of improved latrines in schools and public places, and extensive community sensitization campaigns on sanitation ladder principles, handwashing, and safe waste disposal.Increased household latrine coverage and improved hygiene behaviors.Improved sanitation facilities in hundreds of schools.Example Achievement: Over [Number] communities declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.Sustainable Water Resources Management: A core component of JWESSP was strengthening the sustainable management of Uganda’s vital water resources. This involved developing and implementing Catchment Management Plans, monitoring water quality and quantity, and strengthening regulatory frameworks for water abstraction and pollution control.Establishment and operationalization of [Number] Water Management Zones/Catchment Management Organizations.Improved data collection and analysis for informed water resource planning.Example Achievement: Development of the [Specific Catchment Name] Catchment Management Plan.Environmental Management and Restoration: The programme made significant strides in environmental protection, conservation, and restoration. This included initiatives in wetland restoration, sustainable land management practices, afforestation and re-afforestation efforts, and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.Rehabilitation of [Number] hectares of degraded wetlands.Tree planting campaigns across various districts.Example Achievement: Development of [Specific Policy/Guideline] for sustainable environmental management.Strengthened Sector Coordination and Capacity Building: JWESSP played a crucial role in enhancing the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Water and Environment and local governments. This involved training staff, improving planning and monitoring systems, and fostering better coordination among all sector stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.Improved inter-agency collaboration within the water and environment sector.Enhanced technical skills of MWE staff and local government officials.Example Achievement: Development of the [Specific Reporting System/Framework] for sector performance monitoring.Impact and Legacy: The JWESSP significantly contributed to the achievements outlined in Uganda’s National Development Plans during its operational period. Its integrated approach led to more holistic and sustainable interventions in water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental management. The programme laid a robust foundation for subsequent sector interventions and policies, leaving a lasting legacy of improved infrastructure, strengthened capacity, and a heightened awareness of sustainable water and environmental resource management among Ugandans. The lessons learned from JWESSP continue to inform ongoing and future projects within the Ministry of Water and Environment, ensuring a continuous commitment to a water-secure and environmentally sustainable Uganda.
ICRPProject OverviewThe Irrigation for Climate Resilience Project (ICRP) aims to...
REDD+ is an acronym for Reducing of Emissions from Deforestation and fores...
The project is funded by the Adaptation Fund through the Sahara and Sahel Observ...
The Ministry of Water and Environment is committed to avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating adverse environmental and social impacts associated with its projects, as well as adopting a gender-sensitive and gender-equitable approach for all its projects.
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