Environmentalist Calls for Stricter Laws On Construction, Mandatory Tree Planting to Curb Ecological Loss

Environmental advocates in Uganda are calling for an urgent strengthening of the nation's environmental laws. They propose making tree planting a mandatory requirement for all development approvals and enforcing stricter penalties against wetland destruction, citing growing concerns over unchecked urban expansion and weakening ecological protection systems.

Ashiraf Enjer Ddumba, Executive Director of My Tree Initiative, stated that existing policies are inadequate to protect Uganda's rapidly diminishing green cover. He warned that weak enforcement allows construction projects to proceed without sufficient environmental safeguards. Ddumba emphasized that environmental protection needs to shift from awareness campaigns and voluntary actions to legally binding obligations integrated into national development planning and approval processes. He argued that all infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, hospitals, and private developments, should be legally required to allocate space for tree planting as part of their approved building plans.

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We need stronger legal frameworks so that anyone constructing must also protect the environment and allocate space for trees.

"We need stronger legal frameworks so that anyone constructing must also protect the environment and allocate space for trees," Ddumba said. He cautioned that the failure to enforce such requirements accelerates environmental degradation, particularly in urban areas where rapid construction replaces natural green spaces with concrete infrastructure. Ddumba noted that many approved developments lack environmental buffers or greening plans, undermining long-term sustainability and increasing vulnerability to climate change impacts like flooding and heat stress.

Concerns were also raised about continued wetland encroachment, with some developers allegedly reclaiming protected ecosystems for construction despite existing legal protections. Ddumba highlighted that wetlands are being filled and converted into building land, diminishing their crucial roles in flood control, water purification, carbon storage, and climate regulation. He urged for stricter enforcement measures against illegal wetland destruction, including heavier penalties, consistent monitoring, and improved coordination between environmental regulators and local authorities. Ddumba stressed that enforcement agencies must act decisively, without exemptions or political interference, for Uganda to reverse its ongoing ecological losses. "Wetlands are being destroyed for construction, yet they are critical to our survival. Enforcement must be strict, consistent, and non-negotiable," he stated.

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Wetlands are being destroyed for construction, yet they are critical to our survival. Enforcement must be strict, consistent, and non-negotiable.