At the 8^th Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK 2025), held from March 17 to 21 at the Ministry of Water and Environment’s headquarters. Makerere University researchers called for more efficient management of water and environmental resources. The event, organized by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) through the Water Resources Institute brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss challenges and solutions related to water, environmental sustainability, and climate change.

The theme of UWEWK 2025, “Water and Environment Resources for Enhanced Resilience and Improved Incomes and Livelihoods,” focused on promoting sustainable use of natural resources to enhance resilience and improve livelihoods. The week-long event also commemorated International Forest Day, World Water Day, and World Meteorological Day.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the EfD-Mak Centre, delivered a keynote address on “Equitable and Sustainable Use of Water and Environmental Resources for Improved Incomes and Livelihoods.” Participating via Zoom from an Inclusive Green Economy workshop in Ethiopia, Bbaale emphasized the critical role of water in economic development, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, and industrialization.

“Water is fundamental to the success of many sectors. It influences health, education, agriculture, and energy, all of which are integral to economic growth,” Prof. Bbaale stated. He noted that water is vital for manufacturing, services, and industrialization, and is a primary energy source in Uganda, where the country heavily relies on hydroelectric power. Globally, agriculture accounts for about 70% of freshwater use, and water is also crucial for transportation and the health of ecosystems.

However, challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource mismanagement continue to threaten water availability and access. Prof. Bbaale referenced global data showing that 40-70% of developing countries face a lack of access to safe drinking water, exacerbating inequality and sparking conflicts. He also highlighted the economic implications of water scarcity, citing the example of India, where over-extraction of groundwater could lead to a 6% GDP loss by 2030.

In Africa, despite possessing some of the world’s largest freshwater systems, over 400 million people lack access to safe drinking water. Prof. Bbaale pointed to the shrinking of Lake Chad and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile, emphasizing the need for cooperative water management. In Uganda, water bodies like Lake Victoria face pollution from industrial waste, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff, threatening the livelihoods of millions dependent on the lake.

Prof. Bbaale also shared success stories of sustainable water management, highlighting Singapore’s water self-sufficiency model, Israel’s efficient use of recycled water for agriculture, and the Netherlands’ world-class flood management systems. He urged African nations, including Uganda, to adopt similar strategies to ensure the sustainability of water resources.

“Water scarcity, if not addressed, could lead to social unrest and significant economic losses. However, with proper management, water resources can drive industrialization, trade, and job creation,” Prof. Bbaale concluded, calling for continued investment in sustainable water practices, such as expanding irrigation coverage and promoting clean energy.

A Robust Natural Resource Accounting Required to Support Sustainable Development in Uganda – Dr. John Sseruyange

In a parallel session, Senior Research Fellow Dr. John Sseruyange participated in a policy dialogue on Natural Capital Accounting for Nature Positive Economic Planning, discussing the efforts of the EfD-Mak Centre at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation.

Dr. Sseruyange emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to natural resource accounting in Uganda, noting that while natural capital—such as forests, wetlands, and water—is crucial to the nation’s economy, its evaluation has often been too narrow. Resources like land, fisheries, and marine assets are frequently overlooked in discussions.

“Natural capital is often misunderstood and narrowly defined,” Dr. Sseruyange explained, stressing that a broader approach is necessary to understand Uganda’s true natural wealth. He pointed out the historical undervaluation of natural resources by policymakers, highlighting that while depreciation of physical capital is considered in the country’s net national product (NNP), the degradation of natural resources such as land, water, and ecosystems is not factored in. This imbalance limits Uganda’s ability to fully account for its wealth and economic potential.

Dr. Sseruyange also discussed the role of the Environment for Development (EfD) Mak Centre, which conducts collaborative research with government agencies and local stakeholders to ensure that findings are grounded in real-world issues and relevant to policy development. The center’s Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) program trains senior civil servants on critical environmental topics like forestry, biodiversity, and energy efficiency, particularly in Uganda’s transport sector.

The EfD-Mak Centre’s research has also focused on energy efficiency and emission reduction in Uganda’s transport sector. Research teams have worked with stakeholders, including border-border operators and taxi drivers, to gather data and refine policies that can impact Uganda’s environmental and economic future.

“We don’t just write papers; we take our findings to local governments and communities to gather feedback and integrate it into our work,” Dr. Sseruyange stated, emphasizing the practical application of research to inform policymaking at all levels. He also stressed the importance of making technical research accessible to policymakers and the public, ensuring that it can be acted upon.

The session concluded with a call for continued collaboration between researchers, government agencies, and local communities to improve Uganda’s natural capital accounting. Such efforts are essential to enhancing environmental resilience and advancing sustainable economic growth.

Call for Urgent Adaptation Measures to Safeguard Uganda’s Agricultural Sector from Climate Variability

 Dr. Peter Babyenda, the IGE Engagement Specialist, presented a paper during the side event under the theme Sub-theme 2: Water and Environment for Climate Action. His paper, titled “Adaptation to Climate Variability Safeguards Welfare Loss in Uganda,” focuses on the critical need for effective climate adaptation strategies to protect the welfare of Uganda’s rural farming households.

Presenting via Zoom from an Inclusive Green Economy workshop in Ethiopia , Babyenda stressed that Uganda is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability, with about 68% of households relying on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. According to Babyenda, this dependency makes Ugandan farmers particularly susceptible to extreme climate events, including floods, droughts, altered rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures. These changes, Babyenda explained, not only threaten food security but also exacerbate poverty.

“Climate variability is no longer a future threat – it is a present reality for millions of Ugandans,” said Dr. Babyenda. “Effective adaptation measures can mitigate these impacts and significantly improve the welfare of farming households.”

In his presentation, Dr. Babyenda used data from six waves of Uganda National Panel Surveys (2009-2019) and historical climate data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, spanning the years 1979-2013, to assess the impact of climate variability on household welfare. He also applied the Endogenous Switching Regression model to evaluate the effect of adaptation decisions made by farming households.

The study revealed that households that adopted climate adaptation strategies saw a measurable increase in their welfare, with an average gain of 4,054 Uganda shillings (approximately $1.2) per adult equivalent. However, Dr. Babyenda highlighted that while some adaptation measures proved beneficial, not all were immediately advantageous. The initial costs of adaptation can result in short-term losses, but over time, the benefits outweigh these challenges.

“Farmers who adapt to climate variability generally experience less damage to their livelihoods compared to those who do not,” Babyenda noted. “However, the key to success lies in identifying the most effective and affordable adaptation measures.”

Dr. Babyenda’s findings stress the need for strategic policy interventions to foster widespread adaptation among Uganda’s farmers. His recommendations included educating farmers about the long-term benefits of adaptation, subsidizing adaptation measures to make them more accessible, and improving the efficiency of extension services to better support farmers.

“Policymakers must ensure that farmers are not only informed but equipped with the tools to adapt,” Babyenda emphasized. “This means enhancing extension services, targeting farmers with specific educational programs, and subsidizing key resources to make adaptation more feasible.”

Dr. Babyenda concluded by urging a coordinated effort to build resilience within Uganda’s agricultural sector. He emphasized that these strategies are vital to ensuring the long-term sustainability of agriculture, which is a cornerstone of Uganda’s economy.

“Climate change is a clear and present danger, but through careful adaptation, we can secure the future of Uganda’s agriculture and the welfare of its farmers,” Babyenda said.

The findings of the research are expected to serve as a crucial baseline for future climate adaptation policies and actions in Uganda, aiming to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of farming households affected by climate variability. The paper was authored by Peter Babyenda, Makerere University Uganda; Prof. Jane Kabubo-Mariara, Executive Director, Partnership for Economic Policy and Sule Odhiambo from University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda