We will remember him as humble, intelligent man who worked passionately for the conservation of wetlands and whose vast knowledge shaped national and global conventions. He stamped his foot and left an indelible mark on biodiversity conservation and climate action.

This defines the legacy of Mr. Paul Gumonye Mafabi, the former Director for Environmental Affairs and Commissioner for Wetlands in the Ministry of Water and Environment who breathed his last on 15 September 2020. At the time of his demise, he was the National Coordinator for the ‘Building resilient communities, wetlands ecosystems and associated catchments in Uganda’ project jointly funded by the Government of Uganda, Green Climate Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP.)

His work for environmental management and climate action spanned decades, defining the letter in national policies for the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of degraded wetlands and catchment areas.

In 2013 when he was still the Commissioner for the Wetlands, Mafabi raised the alarm that Uganda had lost 30 percent of the wetlands cover which deepened the negative impacts of climate change and lead to the floods that ravaged eastern and north-eastern districts of the country.

The “spongy” water-drenched areas, also known as “the lungs of the earth”, absorb excess water when it rains and releases it during the dry season. Mafabi saw this, and the many other benefits provided by wetlands to humanity as a sacred treasure to guard jealously.

“The fish catch is on a steady decline. The water bodies are silted, contaminated and clogged. Food crops are becoming expensive because of the unpredictable weather patterns and changing climate. This is a result of degrading and mismanaging our wetlands”, Mr. Mafabi warned.

Govt cancels land titles in wetlands

The following year, Government cancelled all land titles in wetlands acquired after the coming into force of the 1995 Constitution. This move gazetted them as a public good that government held in trust of the citizens.

The rapid population growth and need of land for settlement, agriculture and industry have been the main cause of wetlands destruction in Uganda. However, to Mafabi the increase in the number of whistleblowers alerting the authorities about encroachers was evidence that the public is sensitized about the risk to expect from destroying wetlands. He was outspoken on the matter, saying that the “impunity of some people is making law enforcement hard.” And Mafabi’s voice of reason continued to speak out until it went silent. 

Mafabi was a moving encyclopedia and a reference point for government on environment and wetland issues. During the 5 June 2017 commemoration of World Environment Day in Ibanda, the President of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Museveni, interrupted his speech and invited Mafabi to drive home his point of how Ugandans must do all it takes to protect the environment. “We have not had enough rain for the last two seasons in Uganda and experts attribute it to the attack on the environment by people who invaded wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers that contribute 40 percent of the rains we get,” said President Museveni.

Without hesitation and a stammer, a humble Mafabi stepped forward and explained how the ocean currents, wetlands, lakes, rivers and forests are critical to the rain cycle. This he delivered with mathematical accuracy, even when he had no literature to refer to.

Thereafter, the President said that government would enforce the existing National Environmental Law and regulations on wetlands, rivers and lakeshores, limiting human activity to a radius of 50 meters from a riverbank and 200 meters from a lakeshore. He also advised all people living or practising agriculture in wetlands and forestry reserves to leave them peacefully. 

Starting Wetlands restoration project 

In 2016/2017, alarmed by the high rate of wetlands degradation in Uganda, Mafabi worked together with UNDP, Government and the Green Climate Fund to conceive the Wetlands Restoration Project. He supported its preparation, design, and approval. Upon his retirement in 2017, Mafabi was recalled by the Ministry of Water and Environment and assigned as the National Project Coordinator to support the implementation of this 8-year project.

The ‘Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments in Uganda Project’ seeks to restore wetlands and increase the resilience of both ecosystems and nearby communities. The project is being implemented in 24 districts in Eastern and Western Uganda.

“We have lost a colleague, brother and a great leader in the nature, climate and energy space,” UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Elsie Attafuah said in a communication to staff. “Obviously, the team is devasted and his passing is difficult for all of us.”

Within UNDP, Mr. Mafabi worked closely with the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCDRR) team overseeing the implementation of the wetland’s restoration projects, attending several meetings and regularly making field visits. He was known for his calm approach to issues, enviable sense of humour and a trademarked chuckle. 

Mr. Mafabi was key in organizing the official launch of the Wetland Restoration Project, by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, which was fittingly done on 2 February 2019 on World Wetlands Day. In December the same year, Mr. Mafabi led the preparations for the visit of H.E. President Museveni and a host of ambassadors to one of the sites for the Project at Limoto in Pallisa District.

He explained how communities vacated the Limoto wetland and were provided with alternative livelihoods, including a small-scale irrigation scheme which facilitated the quick regeneration of the wetland. The land that was once used for rice growing and grazing now had aquatic life again. The wetlands had been restored, and now provided carbon sequestration to mitigate impacts of climate change.

As recently as a fortnight ago, UNDP worked intensely with Mr. Mafabi on the acceleration plan for the Wetlands Restoration Project. A week earlier he was in the field, working to accelerate the delivery for the Project.

“He was a key pillar in the GCF project and always a pleasant, polite, soft spoken gentleman. This demise is most unfortunate indeed. Uganda had been robbed of a man with wealth of experience, and so committed to wetlands restoration,” commented Ms. Sheila Ngatia, the UNDP deputy Resident Representative.

“He will be remembered as a humble, approachable, focused, patient, articulate, knowledgeable and abundantly experienced person; oozing with knowledge and wisdom on natural resources, environment conservation and sustainable use. May Paul rest in peace”, commented Ms. Jascinta Nalwoga, the UNDP Project Management Specialist for the Wetlands Restoration Project.

Additionally, Paul Nteza, who also worked closely with him says, “He was humorous and a person who waits in the curtains unless called upon… He was the boss who was not bossy. He was a man with a kind, shining star to be relied upon.”

Mafabi also led the government team when UNDP and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) supported the research, mapping and compiled of the Uganda National Wetlands Atlas, which was launched in 2017. The Atlas maps the location of wetlands, indicates the trend of their degradation over the years and makes recommendations on their restoration.

At the launch, Mafabi, cautioned that the Crested Crane, Uganda's national emblem is one of those species which would be endangered if wetlands disappear.

A hero and national icon

Paul Mafabi was involved in wetland management for over 30 years. After rising through the ranks, he was appointed Director of Environment Affairs in the Ministry of Water and Environment. He spearheaded the development of the Uganda National Wetlands Policy - the first of its kind in Africa.

As Commissioner for the Wetlands Management Department, his work raised the profile of wetlands in Uganda from being considered as wastelands to important natural resources for national development and poverty reduction.

He helped to establish the Wetlands Inspection Division from scratch and steered the Division towards the adoption of a 10-year Wetlands Sector Strategic Plan (2001-2010). This resulted in the inclusion of wetlands in the Poverty Action Fund as the first natural resource to benefit from this competitive funding source, and subsequently in the National Development Plans.

Mafabi’s other roles 

Prior to his retirement from the civil service in 2017, he had served in several roles which included coordinating the implementation of the UNDP/IUCN/UNEP Flagship Global Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) project.

Additionally, Mr. Mafabi was the Chairperson of the Mountains Forum and drove partnership that assisted in their protection of the towering snowcapped mountain in western Uganda. He understood the importance of the mountains and their many sensitivities to the effects of climate change.

Mafabi wore another hut as the Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands from 1999 to 2002 and a Member of the Board of Directors of Wetlands International from 2001 and Regional Vice-Chair and Special Advisor for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Ecosystem Management. 

He successfully coordinated the ninth RAMSAR Conference of the Parties in 2005 and was subsequently selected as the Chair to the RAMSAR Convention Standing Committee from 2006-2008. He represented the Government of Uganda and Africa, negotiating at Global UN and related conventions.

He was a key member of the board of the National Environmental Management Authority, the environment watchdog for Uganda. He was the Chairperson of Nature Uganda, Chairperson of IUCN National Steering Committee and Chairperson of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Mr. Mafabi was also Board Chair for the Environmental Conservation Trust and a board member on the National Biodiversity Trust Fund.

“Beyond that, he was a calm, humorous, charming and a determined conservationist behind the wetland conservation agenda in Uganda and globally”, Ms. Attafuah eulogized. “Mafabi will be greatly missed. May his soul rest in peace.” ENDS