A powerful warning has been issued to thousands of people occupying Uganda’s wetlands illegally after the government officially scrapped the amnesty that had previously given encroachers an opportunity to leave protected areas without severe punishment. Water and Environment Minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire announced the tough new position, signaling the beginning of a more aggressive campaign to restore the country’s endangered ecosystems.
Speaking during the National Environment Sustainability Awards (NESA) 2026 in Kampala, Otafiire delivered a blunt message, saying there would no longer be room for excuses from individuals, companies, or institutions responsible for damaging wetlands. He argued that the continued destruction of these ecosystems has reached alarming levels and can no longer be tolerated.
The minister insisted that wetlands exist for a reason and play a vital role in maintaining the natural balance of the environment. He criticized the growing culture of encroachment, saying human activities in protected areas are undermining nature’s ability to support life and protect communities from environmental disasters.
In one of his strongest warnings yet, Otafiire revealed that the government’s enforcement efforts would go beyond those physically occupying wetlands. He vowed to pursue officials who facilitate environmental crimes through corruption, negligence, or the illegal approval of activities in protected ecosystems.
According to the minister, the destruction of wetlands poses a direct threat to Uganda’s water security. Wetlands act as natural purification systems, filtering pollutants before they enter rivers and lakes. Their disappearance, he warned, exposes communities to contaminated water and increases the risk of environmental and public health crises.
The call for urgent action was reinforced by Bank of Uganda Governor Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, who warned that climate change is increasingly becoming an economic challenge. He noted that environmental disasters can destroy livelihoods, disrupt business operations, damage infrastructure, and place enormous pressure on the country’s financial system.
Atingi-Ego urged both government and private sector leaders to invest in innovative solutions that strengthen resilience against climate-related shocks. He emphasized that countries that embrace technology, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable development strategies will be better positioned to succeed in the future.
As environmental leaders, policymakers, and innovators gathered to celebrate achievements in sustainability, the event ultimately became a platform for one of the strongest environmental warnings in recent years. With amnesty officially withdrawn, the government’s message was unmistakable: those degrading wetlands, and those protecting them from accountability, should prepare to face the full weight of the law.
