Wetland Professionals Platform - Wetland Personality

Wetland Personality March - July 2006

Paul Mafabi

Paul at Ramsar COP9, Kampala 2005

Paul Mafabi has been involved in wetland management for the last 16 years and has spearheaded the development of the Uganda National Wetlands Policy the first of its kind in Africa. His work has raised the profile of wetlands in Uganda from being considered as wastelands to important natural resources for national development and poverty reduction.

Mr Mafabi rose from the level of Project Manager in 1989 to Assistant Commissioner for wetlands in 1999. During his tenure as Assistant Commissioner Paul Mafabi 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.

Paul has had international exposure through participation as Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands from 1999 to 2002. He has also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Wetlands International from 2001 and Regional Vice Chair and Special Advisor for IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management. Both IUCN and Wetlands International are international organisations involved in management of natural resources in general and wetlands in particular.

Paul Mafabi successfully coordinated the ninth Ramsar Conference of the Parties in 2005 and was subsequently selected as the Chair the Ramsar Convention Standing Committee for the next triennium (2006-2008).

Paul at Wetlands Inspection Division offices with the Netherlands Ambassador, 2000

Paul Mafabi at Nakivubo wetland, 2002

Apart for wetlands work, Paul Mafabi has also served in various capacities at national and regional levels. He is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Nature Uganda. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the International Course on African Wetland Management based at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute in Naivasha Kenya. His efforts were recognised with the Award of Environmental Leadership in 1995 by the Eastern Africa Environment Network.

Before joining the National Wetlands Programme, Paul Mafabi served as a Biology Teacher in a high school and later worked in the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda as an Administrator. He is a citizen of Uganda and resides in Uganda.