The Ministry of Water and Environment needs more than 1,500 environmental rangers to strengthen the protection of wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores and central forest reserves across the country.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alfred Okidi, made the revelation while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The meeting was chaired by Patrick Oshabe.
Okidi said the ministry currently relies on 238 police officers to conduct environmental patrols, leaving a significant gap in enforcement and conservation efforts.
He said staffing shortages extend beyond environmental enforcement, with the climate change department operating at less than 30 per cent of its required staffing levels, while the forestry department is staffed at between 35 and 40 per cent.
Okidi also identified inadequate funding, difficulties in acquiring land and the effects of climate change as major challenges affecting the ministry’s operations.
He said the ministry receives no more than 40 per cent of the resources required to implement its strategic plan, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and government manifesto commitments.
“If you look at our strategic plan, the requirements of NDP IV and manifesto requirements, we do not get the money to meet these mandates. We probably get not more than 40 per cent of what we really want to meet,” Okidi said.
During the interaction, Okidi was seen referring to a document while responding to questions from committee members.
On environmental conservation, he reported that forest cover stands at 13.2 per cent, while wetland coverage is estimated at 19.3 per cent.
He also told MPs that rural water coverage stands at 72 per cent, compared with 73 per cent in urban areas, while 82 per cent of villages have at least one reliable water source.
However, committee members raised concerns about the ministry’s ability to expand water infrastructure to emerging urban centres whose populations have outgrown existing supply systems.
Oshabe asked how frequently the ministry updates its mapping of new urban centres and plans extensions to existing water supply systems, citing Kasanda as an example of a growing town with increasing demand for water.
“There are so many new towns that are growing up that need a response. How often do you have a new map for urban planning? Secondly, how often do you do extensions?” Oshabe asked.
In response, Okidi acknowledged the challenge and said the ministry planned to extend the Kasanda water supply scheme during the current financial year.
He also called for increased tree cover to help communities cope with changing environmental conditions and the effects of climate change.
“With climate change and what we are seeing, if we had enough tree cover, some of the local environment situations would look a little bit better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mbale Industrial Division MP Karim Masaba questioned the ministry’s preparedness for a possible El Niño event, particularly in highland areas where communities face climate-related risks.
Masaba expressed concern about the safety of residents in the highlands of Bugisu and asked the ministry to explain the measures in place to protect them from potential climate-related disasters.
“Because our people are at risk of dying, especially in the highland areas of Bugisu, what preparations do you have in place?” Masaba asked.
