KAMPALA — Lake Opeta Wetland System has lost more than 655 square kilometres of intact wetland cover over the past 30 years, with growing human activity and climate-related pressures threatening the ecosystem and the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
The findings have prompted calls for urgent and coordinated conservation measures involving communities, local governments, civil society organisations and national environmental authorities in the six districts sharing the wetland.
The findings were presented during a stakeholders’ dialogue held under the theme “Empowering Communities to Safeguard Uganda’s Threatened Wetlands.”
Lake Opeta Wetland System covers approximately 68,912 hectares across Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Bulambuli, Katakwi, Kumi and Bukedea districts. It is recognised as both a Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area, making it significant for biodiversity conservation and the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
According to the study, intact wetland cover declined from 93.2 per cent in 1996 to 70.3 per cent in 2026, representing a reduction of more than 20 percentage points.
During the same period, small-scale farming expanded sharply, increasing from 50.2 square kilometres to 803.2 square kilometres. By 2026, nearly a third of the wetland had been classified as degraded.
Christopher Musiime, Programs Director at the Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP), said the research was intended to provide evidence to guide practical responses to climate change and environmental degradation.
“This study gives us evidence of what is happening on the ground and the impact it is having on communities that depend on Lake Opeta. The evidence must now move us from discussion to action,” Musiime said.
He said the research covered the six districts in the Karamoja and eastern regions and was funded by Denmark, the Embassy of Sweden, the Netherlands and Ireland.
“Over the last 30 years, we have witnessed a significant reduction in the wetland cover. This is a warning that we can no longer afford to delay action,” he said.
Musiime identified the reduction in wetland cover, overgrazing, increasing fishing pressure and other human activities as some of the major concerns highlighted by the study.
Simon Okello, Senior Environment Officer in Katakwi District, said the study provides a realistic picture of the environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing communities around Lake Opeta.
“The report has captured challenges that communities and district authorities are already experiencing. The pressure from livestock, cultivation and other activities is affecting the quality and health of the lake,” Okello said.
He warned that continued environmental degradation was affecting water quality and the ecological balance of the wetland.
“We cannot protect Opeta through enforcement alone. Communities need viable alternatives and financial support so that conservation does not mean taking away their livelihoods without giving them other options,” he said.
Okello called for a joint conservation strategy involving all six districts sharing the wetland.
“Lake Opeta does not stop at a district boundary. The response must therefore also be collective, with all the affected districts implementing a common strategy,” he added.
Bako Florence, Senior Environment and Natural Resources Officer in Nakapiripirit District, said climate change was making the situation more difficult for communities that depend on the wetland.
“Our communities are facing droughts, floods and extreme heat, while tree cutting for charcoal is putting additional pressure on the environment. These challenges are affecting food production, water and pasture,” she said.
Florence urged authorities and development partners to strengthen community awareness while supporting practical climate adaptation measures.
“We need stronger community sensitisation, effective local by-laws and alternatives such as small-scale irrigation and water storage. People need options that can help them survive without destroying the wetland,” she said.
Pax Sakari, Executive Director of RICE West Nile, said evidence-based research should guide government and civil society interventions.
“It is always better to intervene when you have facts. This report gives us evidence of what is happening and provides a basis for government and other stakeholders to decide what needs to be done,” Sakari said.
He said the project, supported by funding from the Royal Danish Embassy through Danida, brings together national civil society organisations to generate evidence and advocate for practical solutions.
“Our responsibility is not simply to produce reports. We must use the evidence to engage government and communities and push for solutions that can deliver lasting change,” he said.
Busobozi Emmanuel, Principal Environmental Officer responsible for water and wetlands at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), said the authority supports efforts to strengthen sustainable management of Lake Opeta.
“Opeta is a government-gazetted wetland and is also internationally recognised. Its importance goes beyond the communities immediately surrounding it, which is why its protection must remain a priority,” Busobozi said.
He said the findings could provide lessons for other wetland systems facing similar pressures across the country.
“The findings from Opeta can help us understand what is happening in other wetland systems. I encourage communities and all stakeholders to take responsibility for safeguarding these ecosystems,” he added.
The study identified grazing, cultivation, limited environmental awareness, burning of vegetation and over-harvesting of natural resources among the major drivers of wetland degradation.
Climate-related shocks, including drought, flooding, extreme temperatures and strong winds, are further increasing the vulnerability of communities that depend on the wetland for food production, grazing, fishing, water and firewood.
The study also found that women bear a disproportionate burden of the effects of environmental degradation in several of the affected districts.
Researchers and stakeholders recommended establishing an inter-district Lake Opeta Wetland Management Coordination Framework to bring the six districts together in planning and implementing conservation measures.
Other recommendations include clearly demarcating wetland boundaries, developing appropriate zoning systems, strengthening local by-laws, integrating wetland management into district development plans and promoting alternative livelihoods for communities that depend heavily on the ecosystem.
Stakeholders also called for increased investment in community-led conservation, arguing that sustainable protection of Lake Opeta can only be achieved if communities are directly involved in decision-making and provided with economically viable alternatives.
They stressed that Lake Opeta should not be viewed simply as a protected environmental asset, but as a critical lifeline supporting livelihoods, biodiversity, water security and climate resilience for thousands of people across the region.
