By Chris Mugasha
MBARARA: As Uganda celebrates World Food Day, attention will focus on farmers, food production, markets, nutrition and agricultural innovation. However, one critical resource underpins the entire food system: water.
Without reliable water supplies, farmers struggle to produce crops, livestock cannot thrive, food-processing industries face disruptions, and communities become more vulnerable to food insecurity.
This makes the protection of Uganda’s rivers, wetlands, lakes and water catchments not merely an environmental responsibility, but also a critical investment in food security.
The environmental restoration work undertaken by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) offers an important lesson as Uganda marks World Food Day 2026 under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”
Caption: Some of the gabions that NWSC has installed in different wetlands under the wetlands restoration project.
Through catchment protection, wetland restoration and community engagement, NWSC is demonstrating why safeguarding water sources must be central to sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and long-term food security in Uganda.
In southwestern Uganda, NWSC has supported efforts to restore degraded sections of the Kitagata water catchment, which serves communities in Sheema, Bushenyi and Mitooma districts.
More than 60 hectares of degraded wetland were restored through interventions implemented under the Integrated Water Management and Development Project, supported by the World Bank and the Government of Uganda.
The initiative responded to growing concerns about catchment degradation and declining water quality and quantity.
Wetlands and water catchments play a vital role in sustaining agriculture and community livelihoods. They help regulate water flows, filter pollutants, reduce soil erosion and maintain water resources that support farming and other economic activities.
Charles Mwesigwa, then Bushenyi District Environment Officer, welcomed NWSC’s intervention, highlighting the importance of a water utility taking an active interest in protecting the natural sources from which it obtains water.
The restoration project brought together technical experts and local communities to address the causes of environmental degradation and implement practical conservation measures.
These included tree planting, construction of gabions to control erosion, desilting, community sensitisation and the establishment of sub-catchment management committees.
The intervention reportedly restored more than 60 hectares of degraded wetland, while approximately 160,000 trees were planted as part of the wider catchment restoration effort.
The results demonstrate how coordinated environmental management can contribute to protecting water resources while strengthening the resilience of communities that depend on them.
Protecting Water Sources Before Water Reaches the Tap
One of the key lessons from the Kitagata restoration project is that water security begins long before water reaches a treatment plant or household tap.
When wetlands are drained, riverbanks cultivated, forests cleared or catchments degraded, the consequences can extend to households, farmers and water utilities.
Degraded catchments often experience increased soil erosion and sedimentation, deteriorating water quality and changes in water flows. These conditions can make water treatment more challenging and increase the pressure on water supply systems.
Ben Naturinda, one of the consultants involved in the restoration work, noted that communities engaged in activities such as sand mining needed to understand the relationship between their livelihoods, environmental degradation and water quality.
The challenge, he observed, is partly about livelihoods and awareness.
Communities cannot simply be told to stop depending on natural resources without being supported to identify sustainable alternatives.
Consequently, successful water-source protection must go beyond planting trees and restoring wetlands. It requires community participation, environmental education, livelihood support and responsible land-use planning.
Emmanuel Musiime, one of the beneficiaries of the Kitagata intervention, acknowledged that some community members initially opposed the project because they did not understand its intentions.
Over time, he said, they became collaborators after recognising the benefits of the restoration work.
His experience highlights an important principle in environmental conservation: communities are more likely to protect natural resources when they understand their value and participate in decisions affecting them.
River Rwizi Restoration Is Critical to Water and Food Security
The relationship between water conservation and food security is clearly demonstrated by River Rwizi, a vital water resource supporting communities, agriculture, livestock, ecosystems and urban water supplies in the greater Mbarara area and southwestern Uganda.
However, the river and its catchment face environmental pressures, including encroachment, pollution and siltation.
The Ministry of Water and Environment has called for collective action to restore the river. In September 2026, the ministry’s Rwizi Run brought together stakeholders under the theme “Stakeholders Championing the Restoration of River Rwizi,” with NWSC among the supporting partners.
NWSC’s corporate planning also identifies the protection of the Rwizi and Mpanga catchments among its environmental initiatives, undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment and local governments.
The health of River Rwizi matters far beyond the river itself.
A well-managed catchment helps sustain water resources for households, businesses, ecosystems and agricultural activities. Conversely, catchment degradation can contribute to declining water quality, increased sedimentation, pollution and pressure on water supplies.
The Ministry of Water and Environment has previously identified unsustainable agricultural practices, wetland encroachment, wetland reclamation and siltation among the challenges affecting the Rwizi catchment. Reduced river flows can also affect downstream water abstraction.
Restoring River Rwizi is therefore not only an environmental conservation priority. It is also an investment in the water resources on which agricultural production, livestock keeping and community livelihoods depend.
NWSC Extends Catchment Protection to Katosi, Gulu, Arua and Mbale
NWSC has incorporated catchment protection into its wider water infrastructure and environmental management activities, with interventions in areas including Katosi, Gulu, Arua and Mbale.
At Katosi, the Corporation has worked with the National Forestry Authority to establish a protected area near the Katosi Water Treatment Plant.
As part of the initiative, 18,000 trees were planted across 42 hectares to support biodiversity restoration and catchment protection.
NWSC has also distributed thousands of tree seedlings to communities in Arua as part of efforts to promote environmental conservation.
These interventions reflect a broader understanding of sustainable water management: water infrastructure cannot depend on treatment plants, reservoirs, pipes and distribution networks alone.
The ecosystems that supply and regulate water must also be protected.
For Uganda, where communities and economic activities depend heavily on natural water resources, integrating catchment management into water infrastructure planning is essential for long-term sustainability.
Why Water Conservation Matters for Uganda’s Food Security
Uganda’s food system depends heavily on rainfall and natural water resources.
Farmers require water for crop production, while livestock need drinking water and adequate pasture. Fisheries depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems, food processors require reliable water supplies, and households need water for cooking, food preparation and hygiene.
When water becomes scarce or polluted, the effects can spread throughout the food system.
Unreliable water supplies can disrupt agricultural production, threaten livestock health, affect food processing and increase the vulnerability of households already struggling with food insecurity.
Protecting wetlands, rivers and catchments is therefore an important part of building resilient food systems.
NWSC’s catchment restoration initiatives demonstrate how environmental conservation can support the natural systems on which agriculture and livelihoods depend.
The broader lesson is that sustainable food production requires more than improved seeds, fertilisers, machinery and markets. It also requires healthy soils, reliable water sources and ecosystems capable of supporting production over time.
During the Kitagata restoration discussions, Hillary Igambiriine, then Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Bushenyi, cautioned communities against taking environmental restoration interventions for granted.
His warning remains relevant to Uganda’s food-security agenda.
A successful harvest in one season does not guarantee food security in the years ahead. Sustainable food production requires protecting the soil, water, biodiversity and environmental systems that future generations will depend on.
World Food Day 2026: Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow
The World Food Day 2026 theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” offers an opportunity to broaden the understanding of agricultural innovation beyond tractors, improved seeds and modern farming technologies.
Innovation also means finding better ways to manage water resources.
It includes restoring degraded wetlands, protecting riverbanks, adopting efficient irrigation technologies, reducing pollution, planting trees in degraded catchments, improving land-use practices and combining scientific knowledge with community experience.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) emphasises the importance of forward-looking solutions and traditional knowledge in ensuring access to sufficient, diverse, safe and nutritious food while safeguarding the planet for future generations.
For Uganda, achieving this ambition will depend partly on how effectively the country protects its water resources.
NWSC’s catchment restoration work provides a practical example of why water utilities, government institutions, local leaders, farmers and communities must work together to conserve the natural resources that sustain food production.
As Uganda marks World Food Day 2026, the message is clear: protecting water sources is protecting agriculture, livelihoods and the country’s food future.
Water management is food management. And investing in healthy catchments today is an investment in a more food-secure Uganda tomorrow. End.