Project Overview
Nile Basin Districts Pledge to Support Kalagala, Itanda Falls Conservation and Protection Project
Local government leaders from five districts along the River Nile have pledged total support for a major five-year environmental protection initiative aimed at safeguarding the fragile River Nile , Kalagala and Itanda Falls ecosystems.
Political and technical leaders from Jinja City, Jinja District, Buikwe, Kayunga, and Kamuli declared their shared commitment during a high-level stakeholder engagement organized by the Ministry of Water and Environment through the Department of Environment Services at Bilkon Hotel in Jinja City on Thursday.
The project—the Kalagala and Itanda Falls Conservation and Protection Project (KIFP)—will run up to 2031 under the Department of Environment Services. The project was prepared with the objective of mitigating the negative impacts of the Bujagali and Isimba Hydropower dams on biodiversity, eco-tourism, fragile ecosystem, cultural resources, and fisheries .
It targets restoration of degraded forests , eco-tourism promotion, restoration of degraded fish breeding areas , establishment of Parish Development enterprises and riverbank management stretching from the Source of the Nile in Jinja up to the northern border district of Moyo.
Multi-Million Buffer Zones Set
Outlining the project scope, Assistant Commissioner for Environment Ms. Maureen Anino—who represented the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi—revealed that 2,400 kilometres of protection buffer zones along the River Nile will be demarcated and restored using indigenous trees. Additionally the project plans to gazette the entire River Nile Protection Buffer zone as a Special Conservation Area.
"Today marks the beginning of a crucial journey for managing the ecological importance of the River Nile , Kalagala and Itanda falls and their associated catchments. Ms Anino noted. "We must protect the Nile to safeguard major energy installations like Bujagali, Isimba, Karuma, and Nalubaale power stations, which depend entirely on the river's flow."
Ms Anino further cautioned that mismanaging the shared Nile waters could spark geopolitical friction across regional member states, stressing that conservation is a critical foundation for national development under the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV).
Ms Anino was accompanied by other senior officials who included; Mr Nicholas Magara , Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Department of Environment Services, Dr. Obubu John Peter Assistant Commissioner in the Department of Water Quality Management among others.
Leaders Speak Out
Jinja City Secretary for Works and Natural Resources, Mr Ibrahim Ngobi, who represented the City Mayor, hailed the intervention as a major relief for the region.
"This project is returning the lifeblood of our people," Mr Ngobi said. "Kalagala and Itanda Falls are our heritage. Beyond ecological protection, this will safeguard our spiritual values and spur eco-tourism."
Buikwe District LC5 Chairperson, Mr George Waswa, called on riparian communities to adhere strictly to riverbank buffer guidelines set by the ministry.
Adding to the call, Ms Violet Nanangwe, the Jinja District Secretary for Production, highlighted the economic spin-offs of the project: "If implemented effectively, KIFP will offer our people alternative livelihoods, reduce poverty, and even curb domestic violence triggered by financial distress."
Jinja District Secretary for Health and Education, Mr Bashir Tugeze (representing LC5 Chairman Mr Moses Batwala), warned residents against illegal land transactions on protected wetlands and riverbanks, emphasizing the need to preserve raw water sources for domestic use.
Tackling Illegal Mining
Mr Moses Maganda, the Jinja District Principal Environment Officer, traced the project's roots back to the 2007 Indemnity Agreement signed between the Government of Uganda and the World Bank during the construction of the Bujagali Hydropower Project.
Mr Maganda sounded a stern warning to illegal sand miners operating along the Nile, directing them to halt operations immediately.
"KIFP is a timely intervention to regulate human activity, protect fisheries, and establish regional museums along the Nile to showcase our cultural heritage," Mr Maganda stated.
Call to Action
Closing the workshop, Kayunga Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr John Magezi, representing the Jinja City RCC, urged local leaders to step up community sensitization against land fragmentation, illegal fishing, and environmental destruction.
"We must minimize land disputes so they do not undermine implementation," Mr Magezi told delegates.
About the Project
The Kalagala and Itanda Falls Conservation and Protection Project (KIFP) scales up the former Kalagala Site Management Plan (KSMP). Supported by five sectoral plans—spanning forest management, fisheries, ecotourism, fragile ecosystems, and community livelihoods—the project brings together line ministries, local governments, the Busoga Kingdom, civil society, and local communities.