With floods swallowing entire neighborhoods in Kampala and other parts of the country, invasive species choking waterways, and wetlands disappearing under the weight of unchecked development, experts are urging the adoption of nature-based solutions to solve Uganda’s environmental crisis .
From Kampala’s urban floods to deadly landslides in Bududa and water invasions in Kasese, environmental degradation is taking an increasingly fatal toll.
Experts from Truxor Wetland Equipment, a Swedish company specializing in mechanized aquatic solutions, have added their voice to the growing demands for a rethink of how Uganda manages its natural resources — starting with its wetlands.
"Nature has its own way of healing — if we let it," said Jim Tibuhaburwa, the Uganda Coordinator for Truxor Wetland Equipment. “The key is to integrate our interventions with the natural systems rather than against them. Wetlands are not wastelands. They are sponges, carbon sinks, and biodiversity hotspots.”
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are strategies that harness the power of ecosystems to address socio-environmental challenges and are gaining traction globally.
From restoring wetlands to planting mangroves, such approaches not only mitigate climate risks but also boost biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihoods.
According to Jons Näslund, CEO of Truxor Wetland Equipment, mechanized but eco-conscious technologies can complement NbS efforts.
“Our equipment is designed to support rather than replace nature. We focus on environmentally friendly interventions that support water management and wildlife conservation simultaneously.”
Uganda’s wetlands, which once covered over 15% of the country, are being swallowed by concrete, sugarcane plantations, and waste dumping — particularly in Kampala, where industrialists and developers have encroached with impunity.
The consequences are visible every rainy season, when urban floods paralyze the city and poor drainage systems spill sewage into homes.
Takuwa Nuubu, the Regional Wetlands Coordinator for Central Uganda at the Ministry of Water and Environment, says the government is now ramping up enforcement and restoration efforts.
“We have intensified monitoring and enforcement especially in Kampala’s wetland zones. But we need more than crackdowns. We need partnerships, innovation, and a paradigm shift,” she told reporters.
While the call is for nature-based solutions, experts also recognize that some problems — like invasive aquatic species — require immediate, targeted responses.
Along the banks of the Nile, in Pakwach and near key crossing points like the Nile Bridge, invasive weeds like water hyacinth and salvinia molesta are wreaking havoc, clogging waterways, suffocating aquatic life, and obstructing boat transport.
Jim Tibuhaburwa explains, “These species spread fast. Manual clearing is insufficient and dangerous. That’s where mechanized solutions come in — not to dominate nature but to rescue it before it’s too late.”
He notes that Truxor's amphibious machines can remove invasive species efficiently while minimizing disruption to aquatic ecosystems.
Climate change is adding fuel to Uganda’s environmental fire. More intense rains are flooding low-lying areas, while rising temperatures and erratic seasons are undermining water and food security.
In the Lake Victoria basin, shoreline communities are experiencing a dangerous mix of rising lake levels, erosion, and toxic algae blooms. Meanwhile, the country continues to lose 2.6% of its forest cover annually, further destabilizing ecological balance.
"We cannot continue with business as usual," says Nuubu, warning that unless wetlands are protected and restored, Kampala and other urban centers will continue to drown — both figuratively and literally.
Environmentalists argue that for Uganda to truly shift course, there must be strong political will, investment in green infrastructure, community participation, and regional cooperation.
“Restoring wetlands is not just about plants and water,” said Näslund. “It’s about food security, disease prevention, job creation, and climate resilience.”
Experts insist that any future development must align with natural systems rather than fight them.
“The environment is not a silent spectator. It strikes back. What we do now — or fail to do — will echo in every flood, every drought, and every landslide to come.”