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Kitagwenda District has been named the Best Local Government in Wetland Conservation Management for 2025 by the Ministry of Water and Environment, recognizing its outstanding efforts in restoring and protecting wetlands.
The district has successfully restored 58 kilometers of wetland boundaries, including 40 hectares of Kikoyo wetland, 12 kilometers of River Mpanga and its gorge, 34 kilometers of Kyarutanga, Kanunka, and Ruhagura wetlands, and 12 kilometers of Nyakabale wetland.
According to Daniel Businge, Western Wetland Regional Coordinator at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Kitagwenda’s success is due to its structured conservation approach.
“The district developed a draft Wetland Action Plan to guide wetland management interventions. They have also engaged multiple stakeholders to promote participatory wetland management,” Businge explained.
At the heart of Kitagwenda’s conservation efforts is its 4E strategy—Engaging, Educating, Empowering, and Enforcing—which has played a crucial role in restoring degraded wetland areas.
Anthony Kalyegira, the District Senior Environment Officer, emphasized the significance of this approach. “Kitagwenda has a total of 12,327.6 hectares of wetlands, with 9,669.16 hectares (78.44%) still intact.
However, 2,685 hectares (21.56%) remain encroached. Our goal is to restore these areas by strengthening governance at the village and parish levels to monitor and regulate wetland use,” Kalyegira stated.
Kitagwenda has also gained national recognition for proactive environmental governance. In 2023, the district won the Environmental Sustainability Award from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for its commitment to wetland recovery, restoration, and consistent environmental reporting.
“We were the only district that submitted a comprehensive District State of Environment Report (DSOER), which was later incorporated into the National State of Environment Report,” Kalyegira noted.
Moses Turyamureeba Bujara, the District Natural Resources Officer, called for greater collaboration between local leaders and policymakers to achieve full wetland restoration.
“We urge maximum cooperation between the department and politicians to restore the remaining wetlands and reach our 100 percent conservation target,” he said.
Kitagwenda District Chairperson Ismael Mushemeza praised the Natural Resources Department and other stakeholders for their dedication. “I commend the Natural Resources Department and all those who contributed to this achievement,” Mushemeza stated.
This recognition from the Ministry of Water and Environment reinforces Kitagwenda’s commitment to protecting natural resources, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring a greener future for its residents.