The government has declared an immediate end to the blanket amnesty previously extended to wetland encroachers, signaling an aggressive shift toward environmental enforcement.
The Minister of Water and Environment, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, delivered the ultimatum at the weekend, warning that the state will no longer tolerate the unchecked destruction of Uganda’s fragile ecosystems. Crucially, the minister revealed that the crackdown will not only target illegal occupants but will also pursue the public officials who facilitate environmental destruction.
“Nature licenses hippos, fish, frogs, crocodile. And that’s what it is….If you are not a fish, a frog, a hippo, and a crocodile, what are you doing in the wetland? Even if it is your mistress, get out by all means. Why do you complain? You think God was stupid to put you on dry land and put the reptiles in the in the water? Why are you invading the wetlands?…There should be no mercy for those who are degrading the wetlands,’ a defiant Gen. Otafiire declared. ‘I am going after those who are damaging the environment and those who allow them to damage the environment. Amnesty ends today.’
Gen. Otafiire issued the directive during the third National Environment Sustainability Awards (NESA) 2026 held in Kampala. The event, themed ‘Innovation for Climate Resilience,’ brought together senior government officials, private sector leaders, environmentalists, and innovators.
The minister argued that wetland degradation has far-reaching consequences for water security, public health, and the wellbeing of future generations. Drawing attention to the growing environmental pressures facing the capital city, Otafiire noted that wetlands play a critical role in filtering pollutants before they reach major water bodies.
Their destruction, he warned, means toxic substances are increasingly finding their way into rivers and lakes, eventually poisoning communities through the food chain. By framing environmental degradation as a direct threat to human life, Otafiire justified the suspension of leniency, signaling that the era of polite warnings is officially over.
The minister’s tough stance was backed by economic data from Bank of Uganda Governor, Michael Atingi-Ego. Delivering the keynote address, the central bank chief argued that climate change must no longer be viewed solely as an ecological problem, but as a severe threat to macroeconomic and financial stability.
‘When farmers lose harvests, when roads become impassable, when businesses face rising operating costs, and when communities are displaced, the consequences extend far beyond the immediate damage,’ Dr. Atingi-Ego warned.
The governor explained that climate-related shocks ultimately batter corporate balance sheets, compromise commercial bank loan portfolios, spike insurance claims, and strain public finances. To mitigate these risks, Atingi-Ego called for aggressive investment in climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, and digital finance.
‘The future is going to belong to nations that can transform climate risks into opportunities, innovation into resilience, and ambition into measurable results,’ the governor added.
Echoing the minister’s urgency, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Executive Director, Dr. Barirega Akankwasa, described environmental protection as both a survival imperative and an economic necessity.
‘Environmental degradation is an existential threat to humanity and we must treat it as such,’ Dr. Akankwasa said.
He reminded the audience that Uganda’s forests regulate rainfall, its wetlands store and purify water, its rivers generate hydro-energy, and its biodiversity supports tourism and agriculture.
Despite the grim warnings, the NEMA chief highlighted notable strides in conservation. According to recent data, Uganda’s forest cover has rebounded from approximately 9 percent in 2015 to 13 per cent today. Wetland coverage has also registered marginal improvements, though significant portions remain heavily encroached upon.
Dr. Akankwasa noted that NEMA has scaled up environmental governance through strict compliance monitoring, forced restoration initiatives, and the digitization of services to curb corruption.
While Gen. Otafiire emphasized the big stick of law enforcement, the NESA awards celebrated the carrot of innovation. Dr. Akankwasa lauded young entrepreneurs converting waste into valuable products, financial institutions creating green financing instruments, and communities restoring degraded ecosystems.
The NESA awards were established to recognize individuals and institutions providing practical solutions to environmental challenges while supporting socio-economic transformation. Several organizations, including media houses recognized for consistent environmental reporting, were honored at the event.
However, the overriding message of the day belonged to Gen. Otafiire. For those still illegally occupying wetlands, or the bureaucrats signing off on titles in protected ecosystems, the minister’s message left no room for ambiguity: the grace period is officially over.