UGANDA STEPS UP EFFORTS TO PROTECT RIVER MPANGA AS GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH TOORO KINGDOM
By EcoMedia Admin
FORT PORTAL, UGANDA | October 10, 2026
Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment has renewed efforts to strengthen water security and environmental conservation in western Uganda through closer collaboration with the Tooro Kingdom, with the protection of River Mpanga emerging as a key priority.
The renewed engagement follows a meeting between a delegation led by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Alfred Okot Okidi, and the King of Tooro, His Majesty Rukirabasaija Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I, at Karuzika Palace in Fort Portal.
According to the Ministry, the discussions focused on improving water supply, sanitation and environmental protection, while strengthening cooperation with cultural institutions to support sustainable development across the region.
RIVER MPANGA FACES GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE
River Mpanga is a vital water resource for communities in western Uganda. However, the Ministry has raised concerns about its degradation and called for renewed implementation of the River Mpanga Catchment Management Plan, developed in 2015 to guide restoration and sustainable management of the catchment.
The river faces mounting pressure from human activities and environmental degradation, highlighting the need for stronger protection of riverbanks, wetlands and surrounding ecosystems.
The Ministry’s concerns also extend to deforestation and wetland degradation in ecologically important areas, including the Kibale Forest Reserve.
Protecting these natural resources is essential to sustaining water supplies, supporting livelihoods and maintaining the ecological systems upon which communities depend.
WATER ACCESS GAPS REMAIN A CHALLENGE
The Ministry reported that safe water coverage in the Tooro region stands at 69 per cent, below the national average. Access varies across districts, with Kyegegwa reporting 46 per cent and Kamwenge 84 per cent.
To address these disparities, the government announced plans for the Kyegegwa-Mpara-Ruyonza Water Supply System, which is expected to extend safe water services to 154 villages in Kyegegwa and neighbouring areas.
The Ministry also proposed establishing a demonstration site, subject to the Kingdom’s provision of land, to showcase sustainable wetland management, controlled irrigation and fish farming.
The proposed interventions are intended to strengthen water access while demonstrating how environmental conservation can be integrated with productive and sustainable livelihoods.
TOORO KINGDOM MOBILISES COMMUNITIES FOR CONSERVATION
King Edward Rukidi Nyabongo I welcomed the collaboration and reaffirmed his commitment to mobilising communities to protect water sources, prevent waste dumping and combat plastic pollution.
The Kingdom’s leadership structures are expected to support public awareness and encourage responsible environmental practices among local communities.
The approach builds on the Kingdom’s previous environmental conservation efforts, including the Save River Mpanga campaign and tree-planting initiatives associated with the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The renewed commitment highlights the role cultural institutions can play in supporting government conservation programmes and encouraging communities to take responsibility for protecting their natural surroundings.
WHY THE PARTNERSHIP MATTERS
Uganda’s water and environmental challenges require more than infrastructure investment. They also demand effective catchment management, responsible land use, proper waste disposal and sustained public participation.
Collaboration between government agencies and cultural institutions can help bridge the gap between environmental policies and community action.
For the Tooro region, protecting River Mpanga and restoring degraded ecosystems are important steps towards safeguarding water resources, strengthening climate resilience and supporting long-term social and economic development.
The success of these efforts will ultimately depend on implementation, adequate resources, effective monitoring and the continued involvement of communities living alongside the affected ecosystems.
ECOMEDIA PERSPECTIVE
EcoMedia recognises the protection of rivers, wetlands and forests as central to Uganda’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
The partnership between the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Tooro Kingdom provides an opportunity to translate conservation commitments into practical action. The priority now is to ensure that restoration plans are implemented, proposed water infrastructure reaches underserved communities, and local people remain active participants in protecting the environment.
Safeguarding River Mpanga is not simply about conserving a waterway. It is about protecting livelihoods, biodiversity and the natural systems that sustain future generations.
Source: Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment and Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, October 8–9, 2026.
Published by: EcoMedia | EcoNews
