Wetlands play vital roles in supporting biodiversity, regulating water flow and conserving plant and animal species that use wetlands as their habitat. Wetlands also serve as natural water filtration systems, removing pollutants and excess nutrients from water before it enters lakes, rivers and other water bodies. They also mitigate the effects of climate change and support subsistence livelihoods for millions of people who rely on them for fishing, farming, hunting and grazing.

Despite their importance, wetlands are disappearing faster than forests owing to human activities like agriculture, pollution from industrial and domestic wastes, and over-harvesting of resources. An estimated 35% of the world's wetlands have been lost since 1970. Around 87% of global wetland loss occurred in the 20th century, and the rate of loss continues.

Uganda had approximately 30,000km² of wetlands by 2000 but this area has since reduced to around 22,500km² implying a 25% loss in the past two decades. In 2015, the Ministry of Water and Environment estimated that Uganda was losing an average of 5,000 hectares of wetlands per year. This rate of wetland degradation and loss is of great concern, with many ecosystems facing rapid and irreversible changes. Urgent action is thus needed to halt the loss and to promote conservation and restoration efforts.

UNDP in partnership with the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Ministry of Water and Environment are implementing a three-year ‘Restoration of Wetlands and Associated Catchments in Eastern Uganda Project’ in the districts of Kibuku, Butaleja, Budaka, Namutumba and Kaliro. The project supports the restoration of wetlands and associated catchments by promoting catchment-based integrated, equitable and sustainable management of water and related resources.

This initiative is on track to demarcate the targeted 154km² while restoring approximately 3,000 ha of degraded wetlands. On completion, the project seeks to directly benefit over 580 groups with an average of 15 households per group in the 10 sub-counties of the target areas. With an average household size of 12 people in the target districts, the project is set to directly benefit 104,400 people and ensure sustainable use of wetland systems and their associated catchments.

In a bid to establish the progress and early achievements of the project, highlight the impact it has had on the local communities and seek further support and collaboration, a team from UNDP, ADC and the Ministry of Water and Environment held a joint field mission. The monitoring team comprised the Minister of State for Environment Hon. Beatrice Anywar Atim, ADC’s Head of Development Cooperation Dr. Roswitha Kremser, and the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Sheila Ngatia accompanied by the Butaleja and Kibuku district leaders.