Wetland Management Department

Wetland Restoration in Uganda

Department Mandate

To promote conservation and management of wetlands so as to sustain the ecological and socio-economic values of the wetlands in Uganda for present and future generations

The Wetlands Management Department (WMD), under Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, is committed to preserving wetland ecosystems due to their crucial role in sustaining livelihoods and contributing to national development goals. Despite a decline in wetland coverage from 15% in 1994 to 10.9% in 2008, significant efforts have been made to reverse degradation. Since 2011, over 443 km of wetland boundaries have been demarcated and 689 ha restored in 16 districts, with plans to expand these activities further. Additionally, five framework management plans have been developed for trans-boundary wetlands, promoting cooperative governance. At the District Local Government level, over 589 km of wetlands have been demarcated and 3,814 ha restored, alongside the implementation of 69 community-based wetland management plans and 62 District Wetland Action Plans integrated into district development frameworks. Complementary efforts by the National Forestry Authority focus on forest conservation and tree planting to protect water catchments and mitigate environmental disasters. These initiatives collectively aim to restore, protect, and sustainably manage Uganda’s wetlands for current and future generations.