UBL Launches Initiative to Protect Mt. Elgon Catchment Area
KAMPALA, March 24, 2025 – – Uganda Breweries Limited [UBL], a prominent beer producer, has launched an initiative to safeguard the Mt. Elgon catchment area and ensure long-term water security for communities in the districts of Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Kween, and Bulambuli.
The Elgon Pamoja Partnership, a collaborative water conservation programme, was officially unveiled during the 2025 Water and Environment Week. The launch brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations, and local leaders.
At the launch, UBL committed to investing Shs 1 billion over three years to support water conservation and livelihood enhancement initiatives in the Sipi Sub-Catchment of the Mt. Elgon region. This area, which spans the four districts, is vital for both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity. Of the total amount, Shs 450 million has already been allocated to kickstart impactful interventions.
As part of the launch, UBL’s Managing Director, Andrew Kilonzo, presented a ceremonial cheque to James Kisekka, Country Director of AidEnvironment, the programme’s implementing partner. AidEnvironment will lead efforts to restore ecosystems, improve soil and water health, and enhance climate resilience among smallholder farmers in the region.
The initiative aligns with UBL’s water stewardship strategy, which focuses on water efficiency, replenishment, advocacy, and collective action.
The programme will introduce practical, high-impact solutions that utilise nature-based approaches to conserve and protect the Mt. Elgon region. These include soil and water conservation to combat erosion and enhance soil fertility, increasing tree cover through afforestation and support for local tree nurseries, promoting the use of biogas digesters to reduce reliance on firewood and curb deforestation, and expanding rainwater harvesting to improve water access for both households and farms.
Additionally, the programme will promote regenerative agriculture to improve soil and water health in the long term, facilitate farmers’ access to finance to support sustainable practices, and introduce small-scale irrigation systems to boost water-use efficiency.
According to the latest report from the National Environment Management Authority [NEMA], Uganda is losing an average of 791 square kilometres of wetlands each year. If this trend continues, the country could face total wetland depletion by 2040.
While Uganda reports high levels of community participation in water-related projects (as per SDG 6 indicators 6.1a and b), the same report highlights a concerning trend. The proportion of water bodies with good ambient water quality in Uganda [from 2017–2020] stands at zero, compared with regional neighbours like Burundi [100 percent], Kenya and Tanzania [85 percent], and Rwanda [79 percent].
During the partnership launch, UBL’s Managing Director, Andrew Kilonzo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to water stewardship. “Water is our most important ingredient,” he said. “We understand how precious this resource is, and because of that, we are committed to protecting and sustaining it for future generations.”
“The Mt. Elgon region is not only a vital catchment area but also a crucial source of barley and sorghum, which are key raw materials for our production. The project interventions will also improve yields and incomes for farmers,” he added.
Dr. Alfred Okidi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment, praised Uganda Breweries and AidEnvironment for their leadership in environmental stewardship. “I commend Uganda Breweries for their Shs 1 billion monetary contribution,” he said. “I hope these funds will make a significant impact on environmental conservation in the Mt. Elgon Water Catchment. I am pleased to see Uganda Breweries leading by example and inspiring other industry peers to amplify this initiative.”
He further noted that recent challenges such as floods and prolonged droughts are often the result of environmental degradation, mainly driven by human activities like deforestation and encroachment on wetlands. He emphasised the importance of initiatives like this to mitigate the negative effects of these environmental issues.
This programme builds on AidEnvironment’s Green Future Farming project, which was implemented from 2020 to 2024 with a Shs 3.6 billion grant from the IKEA Foundation. It also leverages AidEnvironment’s Harvest Health project [2024–2027], implemented in partnership with NGOs Food for the Hungry and the Kapchorwa Civil Society Organisation, with a Shs 2.4 billion grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency [RvO].
James W. Kisekka, Director of AidEnvironment, highlighted the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to tackling environmental problems. “This programme is a clear indication that the private sector, civil society, and government are willing to collaborate in protecting our environment,” he said.
Stakeholders at the event underscored the need for other manufacturers to join the initiative, stressing that water catchments are shared resources, and their protection requires collective responsibility.
With support from the Ministry of Water and Environment, local communities, and development partners, the Elgon Pamoja Initiative is expected to deliver measurable improvements in water security, livelihoods, and environmental health, while positioning Uganda as a leader in sustainability-focused public-private collaboration.
The Elgon Pamoja programme contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]: SDG 1 [End Poverty], SDG 6[Clean Water and Sanitation], SDG 7 [Affordable and Clean Energy], SDG 8 [Decent Work and Economic Growth], SDG 13 [Climate Action], SDG 15 [Life on Land], and SDG 17 [Partnerships for the Goals].
https://thecooperator.news/parliament-halts-evictions-in-mt-elgon-national-park/
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