Join For Water and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation share a commitment to long-term, collaborative solutions that prioritize government partnerships and community engagement around water security. That is why we are excited to have started working with the Hilton Foundation last year on a project addressing the urgent challenge of wetland degradation around Fort Portal City in Uganda.
In collaboration with Join For Water’s partners in Uganda, NRDI and KFF, the project seeks to empower decentralised authorities and citizens in and around Fort Portal to jointly develop and implement strategies for wetland protection and conservation. By focusing on a systemic approach, the project addresses the interdependent needs of water provision, ecosystem health, and climate resilience.
Key to this collective action is the development of a comprehensive wetland management framework. The project engages government agencies such as the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Albert Water Management Zone (AWMZ), as well as local authorities in Fort Portal, ensuring that the protection and restoration of wetlands are fully integrated into local development plans and climate adaptation strategies.
Progress on wetlands protection
The project’s first objective was to create an inventory of the wetlands in and around Fort Portal, which has been successfully initiated. Stakeholder engagement has been a cornerstone of this process, involving local government officials, community members, NGOs, and private sector actors in the identification of wetlands, assessment of their degradation, and the development of an action plan for their sustainable management. This collaborative approach has led to the creation of a detailed wetland inventory, using both GIS mapping and community input, revealing 32 different wetland systems in Fort Portal.
Restoration efforts are already underway, focusing on high-priority wetland areas identified through the inventory. Six pilot sites have been selected for intervention, where activities like replanting, buffer zone demarcation, erosion control, and the construction of ecological toilets are being implemented. These interventions aim to restore wetlands and improve local access to their ecosystem services, such as water provision and waste recycling. Gender inclusivity is central to these efforts, ensuring that women and marginalized groups play an active role in the restoration and sustainable management of these ecosystems.
Public awareness campaigns have been successful in engaging communities and schools in wetland conservation. Environmental clubs in schools are actively participating in raising awareness among youth, who are seen as key changemakers for the future of the wetlands. Additionally, the project has made significant progress in integrating wetland protection into Fort Portal’s broader urban development agenda. Collaborative workshops with city authorities have ensured that the wetlands action plan is being considered for inclusion in the city’s development plan, with the goal of securing government support and funding for ongoing restoration and protection efforts.
In summary, the partnership between Join For Water and the Hilton Foundation has made significant progress in advancing wetland protection around Fort Portal. Through stakeholder collaboration, community engagement, and capacity building, the project is laying the groundwork for a sustainable, climate-resilient future for Fort Portal’s wetlands. The success of this approach offers a model for scaling up wetland conservation efforts across the region.
