By Evelyn Katasi

In a collaborative initiative with local governments in West Nile, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) organized an extensive training workshop for environment managers within the region. The workshop aimed to engage environment officers, forestry officers, community development officers, information officers, and other key stakeholders from the districts of Adjumani, Moyo, Koboko, Arua, Yumbe, Terego, Nebbi, Pakwach, Madi-Okollo, and Arua City.

The primary goal of the training was to foster interaction and knowledge exchange among environment managers, providing district local governments and city managers with a deeper understanding of both local and global environmental challenges. Mr. Edward Odipio, the Regional Manager for NEMA in Northern Uganda, underscored the practical application of the concepts learned during the workshop in participants’ daily work. He emphasized that environmental management is a collective responsibility, extending beyond NEMA’s role, and everyone plays a crucial part in achieving sustainable economic transformation.

During the workshop, Mr. Asedri Fred, the Environment Officer from Arua City, highlighted the city’s rapid growth, exerting considerable pressure on the environment, particularly critical ecosystems like forests. Mr. Wilbert Ikilai, the Manager for Environment Education and Advocacy, reiterated the importance of participants developing an action plan to outline post-training activities.

Key workshop topics encompassed the roles of lead agencies and district local governments in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) review process, the Montreal Protocol, the legal framework governing environmental management in Uganda, principles of Environmental Governance, and practical solutions to environmental management challenges. Additional focal points included community engagement and partnerships in natural resource management, as well as the role of educational institutions in promoting sustainable environmental management.

At the conclusion of the workshop, representatives from the participating districts collaboratively formulated action plans, outlining the subsequent steps they would undertake to address environmental concerns raised during the training.