The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has today welcomed 50 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Resident Contingency Officers to join forces with the Environmental Protection Police Unit (EPPU) and the Environmental Protection Force (EPF).
The deployment marks a major milestone in Uganda’s ongoing efforts to enhance environmental conservation and enforcement of environmental laws. According to NEMA officials, the UPDF officers will work closely with existing enforcement units to curb environmental degradation, illegal sand mining, deforestation, wetland encroachment, and other ecological crimes.
The officers, drawn from different parts of the country, have undergone specialized training to prepare them for field operations and community engagement. Their integration into the national environmental enforcement framework is expected to strengthen coordination among security agencies and improve rapid response to environmental emergencies.
Speaking during the welcome ceremony at NEMA headquarters, the Executive Director, Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, commended the UPDF for its continued collaboration in environmental management. He emphasized that environmental protection is not only a conservation issue but a matter of national security and public health.
“The environment sustains life, and when it is destroyed, the entire nation suffers. The UPDF’s involvement gives us a stronger hand to protect Uganda’s natural heritage and ensure compliance with environmental laws,” Dr. Akankwasah said.
The Commandant of the Environmental Protection Force, Lt Col. Paul Ssentongo, noted that the deployment will help improve monitoring and enforcement at the district and regional levels. He added that officers will also support sensitization campaigns aimed at educating communities about sustainable resource use.
In recent years, NEMA has intensified its crackdown on illegal environmental activities across the country. However, challenges such as limited manpower and logistical constraints have slowed enforcement efforts. The new deployment is therefore seen as a timely boost to fill these gaps and enhance visibility on the ground.
Officials also revealed that the partnership will focus on building long-term capacity within local governments to handle environmental issues independently. This will include training district environment officers, improving data collection systems, and promoting community-driven conservation initiatives.
Environmental activists have welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step towards achieving Uganda’s Vision 2040 goals on sustainable development and climate resilience. They urged NEMA and its partners to maintain transparency, professionalism, and respect for community livelihoods during enforcement operations.
With this strengthened alliance between NEMA, EPPU, and the UPDF, Uganda aims to set a new standard in environmental governance — one that balances enforcement with education, development, and community participation.
