For example, many Ugandans might know the names of the executive directors (EDs) of bodies such as Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda National Roads Authority, Uganda Airlines (no prizes there), Kampala Capital City Authority, among others.
These entities have beefy budgets alongside the juicy finger-licking salaries of their top executives, whose salaries make for thrilling news headlines.Then there is the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). NEMA is neither in the news for its hefty salaried top officials nor for its top officials getting their jobs on the wings of ‘orders from above.’
When NEMA makes it to the news, it is such a bore. Do you even know the ED of NEMA? His name is Barirega Akankwasah. He has been in office since September 2021. Akankwasah seems perfect for the job. He has a PhD in Environment and Natural Resource Management, a master’s degree in Science, a bachelor’s degree in Environment and Natural Resource Management, and a diploma in Law.
He probably also has all his school pass slips lined up neatly in his desk drawer. Aside from the heavyweight qualifications, he also has the requisite experience, having previously worked in the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in various capacities. The man is fit for the job even before we wonder about how he got the job. Nothing to see here. I told you, such a bore!
State Minister for Trade and Investment Evelyn Anite has a few choice words for boring NEMA. Take a stroll through Anite’s Twitter account to appreciate how far she has come from that young woman on her knees declaring President Yoweri Museveni’s sole candidature.
She would later cement her unapologetic dyed-in-the-yellow-wool stance with her infamous ‘we have the majje/army’ comment’
She went through a brief crisis of confidence when she cried wolf over the ‘mafia’ in the ailing Uganda Telecom Limited. In her crisis, she turned to the public for support. Unfortunately, the public, long used to being on the outside looking in at all the privileged fat cats at the table, continued to look on in a catatonic state.
Nonetheless, that minor speedbump did not impede the juggernaut that Anite is surely shaping into. Flexing her growing muscles, on August 25, Anite fired a warning salvo at hapless NEMA during a meeting with foreign investors at the Namanve Industrial Park.
Anite told off NEMA, “Stop bothering these investors. The only thing I expect from you is to verify a few things, but the environmental assessment in the entire park was done…”
The investors had complained to the minister that NEMA was sabotaging their investments by threatening to evict them in the name of saving the environment.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor in May, the NEMA ED warned that water pollution in Uganda is on the increase. He further revealed that parts of Lake Nalubaale are now green – and not because green is such a pretty colour when paired with our burnished melanin skin.
Rather turning green in places where industries sit on the shores of the lake chugging out pollutants. The ED was also quick to reassure investors that NEMA does not derive any pleasure in shutting down businesses, reiterating, “We are not here to close factories because that affects the economy, our jobs and income. Poverty and unemployment are the greatest enemies of the environment. It is not in our interest to close development.”
NEMA also pulls its weight in contributing to the economy. In January, the parliamentary committee on natural resources scolded the minister of Finance for diverting the Environment Fund from NEMA to the Consolidated Fund.
The parliamentarians noted that while the Environment Fund was established to enable NEMA do its job with the necessary financial muscle, NEMA has no access to the fund. NEMA, through the environment levy, collected Shs 267 billion in the financial year 2021/2022.
The MPs decried the bare bones thrown at NEMA, appalled that NEMA, as a national enforcement body, has 36 cars of which 26 are broken down.
Additionally, NEMA with the responsibility of policing the environment across Uganda’s 130-plus districts (how many do we have now?) has approximately 120 staff.
NEMA’s job is a lesson in doggedness. NEMA is that member of the team whom no one likes because NEMA spoils the fun with its commitment to the rules and the greater good.
Yet the team cannot get rid of NEMA because climate change has ensured NEMA’s seat at the table. With the recent floods in Mbale and prolonged drought in Karamoja, we need NEMA more than we are ready to face. NEMA will be great some day. Just not today.
smugmountain@gmail.com
The writer is a tayaad muzzukulu.
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