C0013 Uganda

On 11 March 2025, the IRM acknowledged receipt of a complaint filed by wetland-dependent communities residing in Rukingiri district in Uganda. The complainants requested and have been granted confidentiality, in accordance with IRM TOR and PGs. The complainants are represented by a civil society organization.

The complaint relates to GCF-funded project FP034, “Building Resilient Communities, Wetland Ecosystems and Associated Catchments in Uganda.” The project’s activities are targeted to the eastern and south-western regions of Uganda. The project is intended to assist Uganda in (i) restoring critical wetlands to improve ecosystem services; (ii) enhancing skills and diversifying livelihoods of people; and (iii) reducing climate risks for communities in sensitive wetland areas and enhancing preparedness. 

The complainants have brought to the IRM several concerns related to the implementation of this project in Nyambabi wetland system in Rukungiri district in November 2023. The complainants have alleged several adverse impacts including violation of property rights of wetland-dependent communities, destruction of homes, crops, trees and plantations, forced displacement of wetland-dependent communities with the presence of security forces and non-provision of alternative livelihoods. 

On 10 April 2025,  the IRM determined the complaint to be eligible. The IRM team engaged with the complainants to understand the issues in the complaint and to provide further information on the next steps available to process the complaint. In August 2025, all parties agreed to proceed with problem-solving as their preferred modality for addressing issues raised in the complaint. 

The problem solving stage commenced in September 2025 and right after, the IRM asought to engage with the parties and initiate a dialogue to identify common topics for discussion and to create a space for parties to engage constructively. Following numerous efforts to initiate the problem solving process under this case, the Executing Entity indicated that they couldn’t participate in an IRM-led problem solving process and instead  proposed a court-annexed mediation in Uganda, which the complainants agreed to. The IRM took note of the parties’ decision and determined that there was no need for an IRM-led problem solving process to run in parallel. Accordingly, as of 14 May 2026,  the IRM concluded the problem solving stage and referred the case to Compliance Review for further consideration.