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The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is organized into five (5) specialized departments, each dedicated to various aspects of environmental protection, policy implementation, and sustainable resource management.
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Executive Director (ED) is the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of NEMA. The ED is responsible for; the day-to-day administration and operations of the Authority, which are accomplished through strategic planning, resource mobilization, and effective fund and property management. His duties include ensuring accountability, supporting the Board and Policy Committee on Environment, and maintaining the Authority's overall effectiveness in achieving its mandate and vision. Additionally, he fosters stakeholder partnerships at national, regional, and international levels for effective environmental management. He promotes corporate governance and oversees efficient management across all departments. The Office of the Executive Director consists of two divisions - Legal and Corporate Affairs, and Strategic Planning and Partnerships - and five units: Procurement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Corporate Communications, Crime Intelligence, and Internal Audit and Risk Management. These divisions and units report directly to the Executive Director, providing essential support across all departments to ensure the achievement of targets and effective implementation of the Authority's mandate. The office has a total staff of 27 employees.
Executive Director
National Environment Management Authority
In the fiscal year 2023/24, the Office of the Executive Director achieved significant milestones that enhanced its operational effectiveness and service delivery. The Institution’s annual budget appropriation increased from UGX18.94 billion in 2022/2023 to UGX42.29 billion in 2023/2024, allowing for expanded resources and capabilities. The establishment and operationalization of the Environmental Protection Force (EPF) marked a major advancement in enforcing environmental regulations. New policies and guidelines were launched to strengthen environmental governance. These include: Management of Hazardous Chemicals and Products Containing Hazardous Chemicals, Regulations, Air Quality Standards, Regulations and EPF Regulations. As part of the restructuring efforts, NEMA successfully recruited at least half of the new staff structure, with 217 members on board by June 2024, enhancing the organization’s capacity to serve Ugandans more effectively. The office also focused on automation of the operations through the implementation of electronic document management (e-doc) and the ELMIS. Additionally, significant progress was made in wetland restoration efforts, demonstrating a commitment to environmental rehabilitation. The Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) collection increased by 9.9% from UGX12.85 billion in FY2022/2023 to UGX14.26 billion in FY2023/2024. These achievements collectively underscore the Office of the Executive Director’s dedication to improving environmental management and operational efficiency.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Senior Manager, Human Resources, Administration, and Finance National Environment Management Authority
The department is headed by Senior Manager Elweru David William and is organised into three key divisions: Human Resources, Administration, and Finance. The Human Resources division focuses on managing the recruitment, development, and welfare of staff, ensuring that the organisation attracts and retains top talent. The Administration division handles the day-to-day operations, streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and productivity across all units, while the Finance division is responsible for managing the organisation's financial resources and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Together, these divisions work to support the organisation's mission and strategic goals. As part of the restructuring efforts, NEMA successfully recruited at least half of the new staff structure of 413 staff. As of June 2024, the total number of staff with the organisation is 217.
In the fiscal year 2023/24, the department of Human Resources, Finance, and Administration successfully achieved several key objectives, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation. Notable achievements include the recruitment of new staff across various departments and units, ensuring that all teams are adequately staffed to meet operational needs. The department also ensured the timely payment of staff salaries and annual gratuities, reinforcing employee satisfaction and motivation. Additionally, contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) were consistently made, demonstrating the department's commitment to fulfilling statutory obligations and securing the financial well-being of employees
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND COORDINATION
The department of Environmental Planning and Coordination (EPC) is responsible for environment planning, research, innovations, information management and public participation for sustainable environment management. Other functions include: development and implementation of environment and natural resources ecosystems, species and genetic resources management plans and strategies, coordination and implementation of research and innovations for sustainable environmental management, public education and awareness, coordinating lead agencies, non-state actors and academic, among other functions. The department is headed by the Senior Manager Francis Sabino Ogwal whose key role is to “coordinate environment planning, research, innovations, information management and public participation for sustainable environment management”. The department comprises three divisions: The division of Planning & Coordination, the division of Environment Education & Advocacy, and the division of Information Systems and also consists of two units: The Research & Innovations Unit and the Natural Resources Specialists Unit. The department also coordinates projects implemented by the Authority. The current projects majorly focus on enhancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development through integrated landscape management, equitable access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources, climate adaptation and mitigation, and alignment with global biodiversity frameworks, ensuring resilient ecosystems and improved livelihoods for communities. They include: Mt. Elgon Project (Promoting Integrated Landscape Management approach for conservation of the Mt Elgon Ecosystem in Eastern Uganda), ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing), GCF (Green Climate Fund) Project on Wetland Ecosystem and Early Action Project (Alignment of National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan II (NBSAP II) to Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The department has a total of 53 staff members, 30 in the mainstream and 24 in projects.
Senior Manager, Department of Environmental Planning and Coordination National Environment Management Authority
Since March 2024, the automation of operations at NEMA has been significantly enhanced through the implementation of the ELMIS. In addition to this technological advancement, there have been numerous successful initiatives aimed at promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. Notably, the coordination of the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) on May 22, 2024, and World Environment Day (WED) on June 5, 2024, was successfully carried out, with the latter's theme being "Land Restoration for Climate Resilience." These efforts included planting more than 5,000 tree seedlings during pre-WED activities in Sironko District. Furthermore, a draft of the Lead Agency and Non-State Coordination Strategy for 2025-2029 was prepared, and the National State of Environment Report (NSOER 2024) was compiled. In addition, the national environment research agenda for 2024/25 to 2028/29 was developed, and several projects were effectively coordinated to support these endeavors.
The department implements environmental monitoring and compliance of the regulated community. It ensures effective implementation of procedures and guidelines and provides technical guidance in the area of Environment Assessment. The department is led by the Senior Manager Eng. Leila Akello Gonasa whose role is to provide overall leadership and coordinate environment compliance assessment of developments in the country. The department of Environment Compliance consists of three divisions (Environment Assessment; Oil, Gas, and Minerals; Chemical Safety, Radiation, and Pollution Prevention) and Compliance Assistance Unit and has 38 staff.
Senior Manager, Department of Environmental Compliance National Environment Management Authority
The department has shown remarkable performance in the Financial Year, achieving, and exceeding its targets across various categories. In the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) category, the department surpassed its target of 3,000 ESIA documents that were planned to be processed in the FY, and successfully processed 2,855 achieving 95%. It also processed 89 applications for waste handling. Additionally, the department provided compliance assistance for 128 cases, showcasing its dedication to maintaining environmental standards. In the oil and gas sector, the Oil & Gas, Minerals, and Geothermal division effectively managed the full cycle regulatory requirements, including oil spill prevention and other critical engagements, further demonstrating the department's comprehensive approach to environmental compliance of Oil and Gas, mineral developments. These achievements reflect the department's commitment to environmental protection and its ability to manage a substantial workload.
The department of Environment Enforcement and Field Operations is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to prevent environment crime; environment monitoring, inspections and audits to ensure that developers comply with laws and set environmental standards and conditions and best environment practices. The department plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment through a comprehensive approach that includes intelligence-led surveillance, operations, and prosecution-led investigations. This robust strategy ensures effective coordination of environmental protection efforts. Additionally, the department oversees all activities conducted by regional offices and collaborates with other law enforcement agencies in environment management to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Furthermore, the department coordinates all environment audits, monitoring, and inspections, significantly contributing to the achievement of NEMA’s mandate and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources. Led by Senior Manager Victor Nahabwe, the department comprises a team of 72 staff members. It is structured into three divisions. The divisions include the division of the Environmental Protection Force, the division of Field Operations, and the division of Environmental Inspection, Audits, and Monitoring.
Senior Manager, Department of Environment Enforcement and Field Operations National Environment Management Authority
The department of Environment Enforcement and Field Operations has achieved significant milestones in enhancing environmental compliance and enforcement in the fiscal year 2023/24. By strengthening regional offices, the department has oversight and rapid response to environmental issues across the country. The functionality of the Environmental Protection Force has been pivotal in enforcing regulations and conducting operations to safeguard natural resources. During this period, 1,375 sites were inspected across the country, encompassing compliance checks, monitoring, and impromptu inspections. These inspections laid the groundwork for increased submissions of environment audits and informed further enforcement and compliance actions. In support of prosecuting environmental offenders, the department instituted and investigated approximately 278 environmental crime cases across Uganda, demonstrating a robust commitment to environmental justice. The department has also strengthened its investigative processes, ensuring that offenses are thoroughly examined, and offenders are held accountable. These accomplishments underscore the department's dedication to protecting the environment and upholding the law
