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
The Minister of Water and Environment; Hon. Sam Cheptoris represented the Guest of Honour - the M...
The Deputy Head of Public Service and Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet; Dr. Theopista Mary Wenene off...
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda; Hon. Robinah Nabbanja officially opened the 9...
TECHNICAL HANDOVER OF RHINO CAMP PIPED WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION FACILITIES IN MADI-OKOLLO D...
IntroductionThe Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing a project titled “Reducing the climate change vulnerability of local communities in Uganda through Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) in forest and wetland ecosystems”. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) totaling USD 4,350,000.The goal of this project is to reduce the vulnerability of communities living around wetlands and forests to climate change with the specific objective of increasing the technical and institutional capacity of government authorities and local communities in Uganda to implement EbA in wetland and forest ecosystems to reduce vulnerability of dependent communities to observed and anticipated effects of climate change.The project outcome areas:Outcome 1: Technical and institutional capacity at the local and national level to integrate EbA into existing management plans for wetlands and forests is strengthenedOutcome 2: Climate change vulnerability of communities living around degraded wetlands and forests is decreased through the implementation of EbA interventionsOutcome 3: Communities living at the project intervention sites have increased capacity to adopt alternative livelihoods and climate-resilient agriculture techniques to decrease their vulnerability to climate change and reduce degradation of wetlands and forests.Outcome 4: Increased knowledge and awareness of government officials and communities at project intervention sites of: i) the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and forests; and ii) the benefits of EbA for increasing the resilience of livelihoods to climate changeProject intervention sites:This project is being implemented in four intervention areas-ecosystemsR Enyau system (Arua; Arua City)R Sironko system (Sironko; Bulambuli)R Rwambu-Mpanga system (Ibanda; Kitagwenda and Kamwenge)R Rwizi-Nakivale system (Mbarara; Mbarara City)
ABOUT FIEFOC-3The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) is implementing the development of three- medium sized irrigation schemes in northern and eastern regions of Uganda, covering an irrigable area of 1,800 hectares. The irrigation schemes are developed at Unyama (700 ha) in Amuru and Gulu Districts, Sipi (400 ha) in Bulambuli District, and Namalu (700 ha) in Nakapiripirit District under a project code – named Farm Income Enhancement and Forest Conservation Programme – Project 3 (FIEFOC-3). The five –year public sector investment (2023-2028) was designed within the context of the Government of Uganda’s Third National Development Plan (NDP III) and the long –term development strategy, the Vision 2040 both of which promote agricultural infrastructure development, agro-industrialization and household incomes.The project was also designed following a successful completion of FIEFOC-1, which ended in December 2012 and FIEFOC-2 to be completed by December 2025 respectively. The contribution of FIEFOC-3 is hinged on water sector performance indicator that focuses on harnessing irrigation potential of Uganda for increased agricultural production and productivity and household incomes (Sustainable Development Goal 2), and improving access to Sustainable Water Systems (Sustainable Development Goal 6).PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVEThe project development objective is to contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth of Ugandathrough enhanced agricultural productivity and commercialization, thereby improving household incomes, food security and climate resilience through sustainable natural resources management and agricultural enterprise development.DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSThe key financiers of the project are the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) with financial support of USD 86.5 million and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) with USD 15.0 million with counterpart funding from the Government of Uganda of USD 10.62 million, totaling USD 112.12million. The project is jointly implemented by the MWE and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).PROJECT LOCATIONThe project is implemented in the northern and eastern regions of Uganda, where three irrigation schemes are developed: Unyama in Amuru and Gulu Districts, Namalu in Nakapiripirit District and Sipi in Bulambuli District. Activities under the Integrated Natural Resources Management (INRM) and Agribusiness Development (AbD) Components are implemented across 19 districts within the project catchment areas.PROJECT COMPONENTSThe four major project components include:Agricultural Infrastructure DevelopmentAgribusiness DevelopmentIntegrated Natural Resources ManagementProject Management and CoordinationOther components include Project Finance, Project Steering Committee and Technical Team inspecting proposed site of Sipi Irrigation Scheme in Bulambuli District 3 Auditing, and Contingency Emergency Response (CER) , thus making a total of 7 project components.PROJECT DESCRIPTIONAgriculture Infrastructure Development (AID) component focuses on implementation of three major sub-components. These include:Irrigation infrastructure developmentSustainable management of irrigation schemes through establishments of Farmer Based Organizations (FBO)Irrigated agronomy, as well as soil and landimprovements for training farmers on modern agricultural practices.Agribusiness Development (AbD) component focuses on (i) value chain support including marketing, agribusiness needs assessment, scoping surveys, promotion of horticulture and aquaculture in irrigation schemes and catchment areas; (ii) training offarmer groups, individual farmers and community-based organizations on commodity collective marketing, financing accessibility, agribusiness skills, food processing technologies, post-harvest handling and management; and (iii) training on sustainableutilization of crop value – addition equipment and establishment of demonstration plots for climate smart agricultural practices.Integrated Natural Resources Management (INRM) component focuses on interventions that target restoration of selected degraded lands and river banks within the irrigation catchment areas, depending on the level of deforestation and status ofenvironmental degradation. This means INRM activity is implemented in 19 districts located within the watershed of the river systems feeding the irrigation schemes as shown in Table 1 below:Table 1. Districts located within the catchment areas.Catchment Area | Districts | No. ofDistricts | Irrigation SchemeUnyama catchment | Adjumani, Amuru, Guluand Nwoya | 4 | Unyama Irrigation SchemeNamalu catchment | Moroto, Napak,Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk,Katakwi, Soroti, NgoraKumi, and Amuria | 9 | Namalu Irrigation SchemeSipi Catchment | Amudat, Bukedea,Bukwo, Kapchorwa,Bulambuli, and Sironko. | 6 | Sipi Irrigation SchemeThe major project beneficiaries include communities living in degraded lands, farmersadopting agro-forestry practices and conservation farming, as well as technical stafftrained in sustainable conservation and tree planting.Project Management and Coordination (PMC) component provides resources for theestablishment and operations of project coordination unit based in Kampala, and regionalproject implementation units located at project areas; coordinate mid – term reviews,organize exposure visits for good practices in irrigation schemes management andbusiness model assessment of irrigation and drainage systems.Project Financial Audit Services provides financial audit services to the project, includingexamination of project financial expenditures, special accounts and bank statements. TheOffice of the Auditor General of Uganda is mandated by the Constitution of the Republicof Uganda to undertake financial audit of public funds. It will be in charge of auditing theproject either through its own resources or external independent auditing firms. Theproject audit year will be in accordance with the Government Budget Year.Contingency Emergency Response Component is embedded as a stand – alonecomponent. The component comes into force when there is an emergency during projectimplementation and the Government wishes to reallocate funds in accordance with theBank’s procedures.Table 2. Key Result Framework IndicatorsNo. | Outcome Indicators (2028) | Measure1 | Percentage increase in number of farmers applyingadvanced irrigation techniques | 0 -50%2 | Percentage increase in yields of major crops | 25-50%3 | Percentage increase in improvement of rural householdincomes. | 25-50%4 | Percentage increase in farmers’ incomes. | 0 (U$788) – 32% (USD 1039)5 | Percentage increase in water efficiency for secondarycanals. | 50-70%6 | Percentage increase in water efficiency for tertiarycanals. | 45-80%7 | Number of small medium enterprises established andpromoted. | 328 | Output Indicators (2027) | 1 | Number of medium sized irrigation schemes constructedin northern and eastern regions. | 32 | Total area of land developed under 3 irrigation schemesat Unyama (Amuru and Gulu districts), Namalu(Nakapiripirit district), and Sipi (Bulambuli district). | 2900 ha3 | Length of irrigation and drainage canals constructed | 360 km4 | Number of machineries provided per scheme | 7 met stations, 7 office blocks, 10 tractors, 8 backhoes and 4excavators5 | Number of gender responsive Farmer BasedManagement Organizations (FBMO) / Water UserAssociations (WUA) established. | 8 (30% women and 10% youth)6 | Number of farmers trained in entrepreneurship, businessskills, value addition and post – harvest handlingtechnologies. | 15,2007 | Number of farmers linked to markets | 12,7008 | Number of trees plants (seedlings) distributed to farmers. | 11 million9 | Number of project beneficiaries trained in naturalresources management. | 20,36010 | Number of districts under, which INRM catchmentactivities will be implemented. | 19
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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 Water Supply and Sanitation Project III (WSSP III) is a significant initiative of the Government of Uganda (GoU), primarily through the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE). Building on previous phases, this project receives substantial funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and aims to significantly expand access to water supply and sanitation services across targeted areas in Uganda.Core ObjectiveThe core objective of WSSP III is to increase access to sustainable water supply and sanitation services in small towns and rural growth centers, and to enhance the capacity for effective management of water resources. This contributes to improved public health, economic development, and overall well-being of the beneficiary communities.Funding and Implementation:Funding: The project is primarily funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, including significant contributions from the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) Trust Fund.Total Cost: The total project cost is approximately UA 50.13 million (equivalent to roughly US$70-75 million depending on exchange rates at the time of approval).Implementing Agencies: The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) is the executing agency, responsible for overall coordination and implementation. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is typically involved in urban water supply components, while MWE handles rural water supply and sanitation directly or through local governments.Duration: Projects of this nature generally have an implementation period of around 5 years.Project Area and Beneficiaries:WSSP III targets various small towns and rural growth centers (RGCs) across Uganda, aiming to extend water and sanitation services to populations currently underserved. The specific towns and regions vary per phase, but the focus is generally on improving living conditions and economic opportunities in these areas.While a comprehensive list of all specific towns might be extensive, the project typically focuses on a cluster of towns in different regions.The project directly benefits:Residents of targeted small towns and RGCs: Gaining improved access to safe and reliable water and sanitation.Local businesses and institutions: Benefiting from better infrastructure and healthier communities.Women and children: Who often bear the primary burden of water collection and are most vulnerable to water-borne diseases.Key Components and Activities:WSSP III typically comprises several key components aimed at achieving its objectives:Urban and Rural Water Supply Infrastructure Development:Construction and rehabilitation of water supply systems: This includes new boreholes, bulk water treatment plants, pumping stations, storage reservoirs, and extensive distribution networks within the targeted towns and RGCs.Extension of water pipelines: Connecting more households, institutions, and public facilities to the piped water supply.Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion:Construction of public sanitation facilities: Building improved public latrines, especially in markets, schools, and health centers.Promotion of household sanitation: Encouraging and supporting communities in constructing improved household latrines.Hygiene promotion campaigns: Raising awareness about safe hygiene practices, handwashing, and water handling to prevent waterborne diseases.Water Resources Management and Environmental Safeguards:Strengthening water resource monitoring: Improving data collection and analysis on water quality and quantity.Water source protection: Implementing measures to safeguard critical water sources from pollution and degradation.Environmental and social management: Ensuring project activities comply with national and international environmental and social safeguard standards.Institutional Development and Capacity Building:Strengthening service providers: Providing technical assistance and training to local water authorities and private operators for sustainable operation and maintenance of WSS facilities.Community management: Empowering communities to participate in the planning, implementation, and management of water points and sanitation facilities.Sector policy and regulatory support: Supporting MWE in refining policies and regulations for the water and sanitation sector.
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IntroductionThe Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing a project titled “Reducing the climate change vulnerability of local communities in Uganda through Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) in forest and wetland ecosystems”. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) totaling USD 4,350,000.The goal of this project is to reduce the vulnerability of communities living around wetlands and forests to climate change with the specific objective of increasing the technical and institutional capacity of government authorities and local communities in Uganda to implement EbA in wetland and forest ecosystems to reduce vulnerability of dependent communities to observed and anticipated effects of climate change.The project outcome areas:Outcome 1: Technical and institutional capacity at the local and national level to integrate EbA into existing management plans for wetlands and forests is strengthenedOutcome 2: Climate change vulnerability of communities living around degraded wetlands and forests is decreased through the implementation of EbA interventionsOutcome 3: Communities living at the project intervention sites have increased capacity to adopt alternative livelihoods and climate-resilient agriculture techniques to decrease their vulnerability to climate change and reduce degradation of wetlands and forests.Outcome 4: Increased knowledge and awareness of government officials and communities at project intervention sites of: i) the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and forests; and ii) the benefits of EbA for increasing the resilience of livelihoods to climate changeProject intervention sites:This project is being implemented in four intervention areas-ecosystemsR Enyau system (Arua; Arua City)R Sironko system (Sironko; Bulambuli)R Rwambu-Mpanga system (Ibanda; Kitagwenda and Kamwenge)R Rwizi-Nakivale system (Mbarara; Mbarara City)
ABOUT FIEFOC-3The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environ...
REDD+ is an acronym for Reducing of Emissions from Deforestation and fores...
The Water Supply and Sanitation Project III (WSSP III) is a significant initiati...
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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