Government tasked to increase funding for enforcement against environmental degradation.

Civil society organizations (CSO) are asking the government to increase funding for government agencies involved in environmental protection to effectively enforce against degradation.

This follows the commissioning of the environmental protection force that will operate under the command of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

Ivan Amanigaruhanga the Executive Director at the Uganda Biodiversity Fund explains that the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and other regulatory organizations such as the Environmental Protection Force should take serious action to improve carbon sequestration and enhance biodiversity for climate resilience.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is the principal agency in Uganda, charged with the responsibility of coordinating, monitoring, regulating, and supervising environmental management in the country.

NEMA spearheads the development of environmental policies, laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines; and guides the Government on sound environment management in Uganda.

Most environmental management strategies involve requirements of individuals and facilities that cause degradation or harm to the environment.

As a result, the National Environment Management Authority commissioned an Environment Protection Force commanded by UPDF Maj Joshua Karamaji.

The Environment Protection Force inaugurated by the  Rt Hon Prime Minister on behalf of the Commander in Chief of Uganda’s armed forces Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is established under Section 25 of the National Environment Act and operationalized by Statutory Instrument No. 32 of 2024.

The force will perform functions such as 24-hour surveillance of the environment, detection and investigation of environmental crime, and monitoring and enforcing compliance with related laws.

According to NEMA, the  force will work closely with the Uganda police force, army, wildlife rangers, and the intelligence community

However Ivan Amanigaruhanga from the  Uganda Biodiversity Fund says there is a need for increased resources that will help government agencies and other actors access funds for annual work Implementation.