Marginalization of Environment and Natural Resources Sub-Sector: Undermining the Economic Base and Entrenching Poverty in Uganda

Abstract

Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) constitute a significant economic base of Uganda and will remain so in the future. While the causes of poverty in Uganda can be attributed to many other factors, environmental degradation and mismanagement of the natural resources remain major obstacles to enhanced agricultural productivity and income generation for the rural population. Natural resources such as soils, forests, wetlands, fisheries, water, rangelands and minerals, among others, are the principal sources of income for the rural poor. Therefore, to achieve pro-poor economic growth, poor economies should build on the natural resource assets available to the poor. The objective of this policy brief, therefore, is to bring to the attention of policy makers, the Executive and Parliament about the current state of under-funding of the Environment and Natural Resources Sector (ENR) and its implications for the country’s development process. The policy brief is also intended to raise the profile of the ENR sector as a key priority and strategic sector that deserves increased budget allocation. This brief was prepared and published under the auspice of the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change (PFCC)1 and the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE)2 supported by DFID and CARE International in Uganda respectively.