By Ben Musanje
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment, Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, has revealed that more than 20,000 villages have been connected to improved water supply systems over the past ten years under the leadership of outgoing Minister Sam Cheptoris.
Okidi made the remarks during a handover ceremony held at the Ministry headquarters in Luzira, Nakawa Division, where Rtd Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire officially assumed office as Minister of Water and Environment, marking a leadership transition that also saw the return of State Ministers in the docket.
The Permanent Secretary used the occasion to introduce senior technical leadership within the ministry, including commissioners responsible for Urban Water, Forestry Services, Water Quality Management, and Water Permitting and Regulation. He also acknowledged assistant commissioners and the Under Secretary in charge of Finance and Administration, Catherine Nassuuna, describing them as central to the ministry’s daily operations.
He further noted that some commissioners were absent due to participation in international climate change negotiations, underscoring the ministry’s continued engagement in global environmental processes.
Okidi described the Ministry of Water and Environment as a broad and strategic institution responsible for critical national service delivery functions. He said detailed technical briefings would be provided to the incoming minister to support continuity and informed decision-making.
Paying tribute to outgoing Minister Sam Cheptoris, Okidi commended his leadership and highlighted key sectoral achievements recorded during his tenure.
He reported that access to improved water supply had expanded significantly, with over 20,000 villages connected to safe water systems in the past five years, improving service delivery and access to clean water in rural communities.
On environmental restoration, Okidi noted mixed but progressive results in forest cover management. He stated that national forest cover had improved from about 9 percent in earlier years to approximately 13.9 percent, before slightly declining to 13.1 percent due to continued pressures such as charcoal burning and illegal deforestation.
He also highlighted progress in wetland restoration, indicating that wetland coverage had increased from 8.1 percent to 8.9 percent. He outlined an ambitious government target of restoring wetlands to 14 percent by 2030, subject to sustained financing, enforcement, and coordinated implementation across agencies.
Okidi emphasized that while notable gains had been achieved in service delivery and environmental protection, sustaining and building on these achievements would require continued investment and strong institutional coordination.
He concluded by welcoming Rtd Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire to the ministry and reaffirmed the commitment of the technical team to support the new leadership in advancing Uganda’s water access, forestry conservation, and environmental sustainability agenda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
