Masindi loses 30% of wetland cover as sugarcane farming, urbanisation increase pressure
Atugonza said farmers and communities living near wetlands should be actively involved in conservation through public awareness campaigns and community engagement.
By George Niyonzima
Masindi District has lost approximately 30 per cent of its wetland cover to degradation, with only 70 per cent remaining, raising concerns over the growing pressure on the district’s natural ecosystems.
Simon Akweteireho, the Wetland Management and Conservation Specialist at Masindi District Local Government, said rapid urbanisation, population growth and expanding economic activities, particularly sugarcane cultivation, were accelerating the destruction of wetlands.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Kinyara Sugar Works premises during a wetland conservation sensitisation meeting organised by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), in collaboration with Masindi District Local Government, Kinyara Sugar Limited and other private-sector partners.
The meeting brought together Kinyara sugarcane outgrowers and other stakeholders to promote sustainable sugarcane production while encouraging the protection of wetlands.
Akweteireho said increasing demand for land for settlement, agriculture and other socioeconomic activities had intensified pressure on the district’s natural resources.
He noted that Masindi previously had extensive natural forest cover and abundant wetland resources, but these had continued to decline as human activities expanded.
Bwijanga, Budongo and Pakanyi sub-counties were identified as some of the areas most affected by wetland degradation. Kimengo and Kijunjubwa were also experiencing increasing pressure, particularly around the River Kafu catchment.
To address the problem, Akweteireho said the district had developed catchment management plans for the River Kafu and other water resource systems, with support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The district is also working with development partners and private-sector organisations, including Kinyara Sugar Limited, the Environment Conservation Trust of Uganda and the Jane Goodall Institute, to promote sustainable wetland management.
He said the interventions were aimed at safeguarding wetlands for present and future generations.
NEMA warns farmers over wetland encroachment
Christine Ainabwinona, NEMA’s Assistant Commissioner for the Albertine Graben region, said the authority was working with district officials and other stakeholders to address wetland degradation in Masindi.
She revealed that NEMA had documented cases of wetland encroachment in Bwijanga Sub-county involving individual sugarcane outgrowers.
According to Ainabwinona, the authority had previously inspected the affected wetlands and issued environmental restoration orders to farmers found cultivating in protected areas.
She said NEMA would return to the sites to establish whether the affected farmers had complied with the orders.
Those who fail to comply risk enforcement action, including removal of illegal developments or activities at their own expense, in accordance with the law.
Ainabwinona identified limited public awareness of wetland regulations, inadequate enforcement capacity and transport challenges among local government partners as some of the obstacles affecting conservation efforts.
She called for greater cooperation among government agencies, farmers and other stakeholders to ensure that wetland protection measures are implemented.
Sugarcane growers call for wider conservation efforts
Robert Atugonza, chairman of Masindi Sugarcane Growers Limited (MASGAL), acknowledged that some sugarcane farmers were cultivating in wetlands, describing the sensitisation meeting as an important step towards improving environmental conservation.
However, he urged government to extend conservation interventions beyond organised sugarcane growers, arguing that other agricultural activities also contribute to wetland degradation.
Atugonza said farmers and communities living near wetlands should be actively involved in conservation through public awareness campaigns and community engagement.
He argued that communities that understand the environmental and economic importance of wetlands would be more willing to protect them, reducing the need for enforcement interventions.
He added that sugarcane farmers supplying Kinyara were subject to contractual requirements prohibiting cultivation in wetlands and requiring them to reserve some of their land for food production.
Kinyara pledges support for conservation
Kinyara Sugar Limited Chief Executive Officer Ramalingam Ravi welcomed the engagement, saying environmental protection was important to the company’s agricultural operations.
Ravi said the company recognised the need to protect ecosystems, support surrounding communities and promote sustainability throughout its sugarcane value chain.
He pledged Kinyara’s continued cooperation with NEMA and other stakeholders in future environmental conservation initiatives.
The meeting highlighted the need to balance agricultural production and economic development with the protection of natural resources, particularly wetlands that support water systems and surrounding communities.
With Masindi having lost an estimated 30 per cent of its wetland cover, stakeholders said sustained sensitisation, responsible farming practices and enforcement of environmental regulations would be essential to preventing further degradation.
