The Uganda Atlas

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The Ramsar Convention, also known as the Conservation
on Wetlands, is an international treaty on conservation
and wise use of wetlands. Uganda, which joined the
Convention in 1988, now has 11 Ramsar sites covering a
surface area of 354,803 hectares. An additional site with a
surface area of 22,400 hectares, named Rwenzori has been
proposed for designation (Fig. 10). Globally, the Convention’s
153 Contracting Parties have designated 1626 Ramsar sites,
covering 145,594,013 hectares.
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971,
is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework
for national action and international cooperation for the
conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Guide to Ramsar sites: Mabamba Ramsar site,
Mpigi District (2006)
26
Figure 10: Ramsar sites in Uganda
Ramsar Convention
Figure 11: Locations of the Ramsar sites in Uganda
Uganda has provided an enabling environment for
the conservation of wetlands through formulation
of appropriate policies, legislation and a ten-year
strategic plan (2000-2010). However, the country
still requires more efforts in fostering sustainable
use of wetlands as well as monitoring and research
to inform the implementation of the convention.
To date the country has implemented several
provisions of the Ramsar Convention which includes;
• Establishment of Wetlands Department in the
Ministry of Water and Environment and existence
of wetlands management institutions at both
national and district levels
• Development of the National Wetlands Policy to
support wetlands conservation
• Incorporation of a section on wetlands in
the National Environment Act, Cap 153,
and development of Environment Management
Regulations (2000) thereunder, to specifically
address wetlands management
• Incorporation of several clauses related to
wetlands in several national legislations such as
the Local Government Act (1997) and Land Act
(1998)
• Preparation of Seventeen (17) guidelines for
wetland policy implementation
• Awareness creation
• Launching and implementation of a 10-year
Wetlands Strategic Plan
The Government is encouraging national and local
governments and non governmental institutions to
design and adopt wise use of wetlands with full participation of
the local communities.
Challenges of Ramsar sites management in Uganda
A number of challenges still remain to realise fully the ability
to, and benefits of, implementing the Convention which
include, among others:
• Computing land use changes e.g oil exploration in
Murchison Falls
• Government of Uganda still has the challenge of
clearly demonstrating the benefits of the Ramsar
sites to the stakeholders especially the surrounding
local communities.
However, there are already visible benefits from these sites
through increased tourism presumably resulting from the
international publicity that attracts tourists to Uganda who
make the sites as one of their destination.
Credit.........................
Name of Ramsar site Year of Site Area Conservation
designation No. (Ha.) importance
Lake George System 4/03/1988 394 15,000 Flora and Fauna
Lake Nabugabo Wetland System 11/02/2004 1373 22,000 Bird and Acquatic
Sango Bay-Musambwa Island-Kagera 16/09/2005 1641 6,053 Flora and Bird
Lake Mburo-Nakivali Wetlands System 22/09/2005 1634 25,572 Flora and Fauna
Lake Opeta Wetland System 17/09/2005 1636 68,913 Bird
Mabamba Bay Wetlands System 18/09/2005 1638 2,424 Bird
Nabajjuzi Wetlands System 20/09/2005 1639 54,229 Bird
Lake Bisina Wetland System 15/09/2005 1633 91,150 Bird and Fauna
Lake Nakuwa Wetland System 16/09/2005 1635 108 Bird
Lutembe Bay Wetland System 18/09/2005 1637 20,163 Bird
Murchison Falls Wetlands System 20/09/2005 1640 22,400 Flora and Fauna
Rwenzori Mountains Proposed 22,400 Flora and Fauna
Total area of Ramsar site 307,756