Officials from Nature Uganda and TotalEnergies EP pose for a group photograph

By: Innocent Atuganyira

Nature Uganda and TotalEnergies EP Uganda have partnered to strengthen the conservation, protection and restoration of the Murchison Falls–Albert Delta Wetland System Ramsar Site.

The partnership was announced during the launch of the Murchison Falls–Albert Delta Wetland System Ramsar Site Management Plan for 2026–2036, a ten-year strategic framework designed to guide the sustainable management and restoration of the internationally recognised wetland ecosystem.

The launch, held at the Buliisa District Resource Centre, brought together local leaders and other stakeholders from Buliisa, Nwoya, Pakwach, Masindi and Kiryandongo districts, which surround the Ramsar site.

Lucy Lyango, Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Water and Environment and Uganda’s National Focal Point for the Ramsar Convention, said the new management plan provides a framework for strengthening conservation and sustainable management of the wetland system.

Lyango urged leaders and communities in the five districts to embrace and effectively implement the plan, stressing the international importance of the Murchison Falls–Albert Delta Wetland System.

She called for greater involvement of local communities and district authorities in safeguarding the wetland and ensuring that its resources are used sustainably.

Achilles Byaruhanga, Chief Executive Officer of Nature Uganda, said Uganda has 12 Ramsar sites, all of which require collective efforts from communities, local leaders, government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure their protection.

Byaruhanga said the Ramsar sites are important not only for biodiversity conservation but also for tourism and the wider national economy.

He urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in protecting Uganda’s ecosystems, saying conservation efforts are essential to ensuring that the country’s natural resources continue benefiting both present and future generations.

The partnership also involves TotalEnergies EP Uganda as part of its environmental commitments in the Albertine region.

Lilian Kepango, Biodiversity Engineer for Forests and Wetlands at TotalEnergies EP Uganda, said the initiative forms part of the company’s efforts to mitigate potential environmental impacts associated with oil and gas activities.

According to Kepango, the project is intended to help protect critical ecosystems, including Ramsar sites and wetlands, from possible negative impacts associated with oil and gas exploration and related activities in the Albertine region.

Moses Businge, the Buliisa District Vice Chairperson, welcomed the initiative, saying the management plan would contribute to preserving the Ramsar site and other wetlands for the benefit of communities and the country at large.

The Murchison Falls–Albert Delta Wetland System is an important wetland ecosystem within the Albertine region and supports biodiversity while providing ecological and socio-economic benefits to communities living around it.

Nature Uganda, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment and district local governments surrounding the Ramsar site, previously undertook a review and update of the wetland management plan.

The 2026–2036 management plan is expected to provide a coordinated framework for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of the wetland system over the next decade.