Who is Dr. Barirega Akankwasah? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, career, work and experience, relationship with Dr. Tom Okurut, President Yoweri Museveni, Moses Musana, early life and education of the current Executive Director of NEMA.
Dr. Barirega Akankwasah is a Ugandan environmental conservationist and administrator.
He currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the statutory environmental conservation agency of Uganda.
He is greatly known for his firm stance on the sustainable use of environment and natural resources to foster community and national development.
Early Life & Family
Barirega Akankwasah developed a deep-seated passion for environmental and wildlife conservation from a young age.
His formative years were spent near the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a place of immense biodiversity and home to mountain gorillas. This early and profound connection to nature was a significant influence on his later academic pursuits and professional path.
Dr. Barirega is known to be family-oriented and has worked to help underprivileged children access quality education near Bwindi Park through the Educate Bwindi initiative.
Education Background
Barirega Akankwasah is a well-qualified environmental scientist and a dedicated alumnus of Makerere University, one of Africa’s oldest universities.
He holds a PhD in Environment and Natural Resources Management from Makerere University, which he obtained from 2010 to 2014.
Before that, he had pursued a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Health and Management from 2003 to 2006, and immediately followed with a Master of Science in Environment and Natural Resources Management from 2006 to 2008, both at Makerere University.
Dr. Barirega also holds a Diploma in Law from the Law Development Center in Uganda. He pursued this course from 2009 to 2010 to provide him with a legal understanding relevant to his work in environmental regulation and administration.
Education background summary
| Years | Institution | Status /Award |
| 2010 – 2014 | Makerere University | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environment and Natural Resources Management |
| 2009 – 2010 | Law Development Center | Diploma in Law |
| 2006 – 2008 | Makerere University | Master of Science in Environment and Natural Resources Management |
| 2003 – 2006 | Makerere University | Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Health and Management |
Other academic accomplishments
While at Makerere University, Akankwasah was involved in student leadership, serving as a Guild Leader.
His PhD research focused on the commercialization of wild plants and its impact on the livelihoods of communities.
Beyond his doctoral work, Dr. Akankwasah has an established research profile, including publications and conference participation. He is active in scientific networks and has contributed to several peer-reviewed works on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
He has also lectured at Makerere University in the Department of Wildlife and Animal Resource Management for several years.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Dr. Akankwasah has a long track record in Uganda’s conservation and environment sectors. Before his appointment to lead NEMA, he held several senior roles in government and academia.
He served as the Head of Department/Director of Wildlife Conservation at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities for 7 years since 2014.
Prior to that, he was the Principal Wildlife Officer at the Ministry from 2009 until 2013.
He also served as the Commissioner for Wildlife Conservation, Assistant Commissioner for Conservation Planning and Partnerships, and Senior Wildlife Officer.
His mix of field, policy and academic experience gave him the technical and managerial grounding that led to his appointment as NEMA Executive Director effective 1 September 2021.
He replaced Dr. Tom Okurut, whose contract had expired after 10 years.
Dr. Akankwasah has led field monitoring missions across priority landscapes, including the Albertine Graben and wetlands, and promoted institutional reforms to strengthen environmental governance and expand NEMA’s operational capacity.
Under his leadership, NEMA has emphasized wetlands restoration, pollution control, and community-oriented conservation approaches.
He has also used his academic background to encourage evidence-based interventions and to raise the profile of environmental science in policy discussions.
Work experience background summary
| Years | Institution | Position |
| September 2021 – Present | National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) | Executive Director |
| 2014 – 2021 | Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities | Head of Department/Director of Wildlife Conservation |
| 2009 – 2013 | Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage | Principal Wildlife Officer |
Other Career Accomplishments
Dr. Akankwasah has represented Uganda in several international environmental conservation forums, including serving as the Global Vice President for the UN Convention on Migratory Species in 2020, the Chairperson Standing Committee of the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, the President UN Gorilla Agreement, and the National Focal Point for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of flora and fauna.
From January 2005 to January 2008, he volunteered as the Director for Community Conservation Initiative Uganda.
Dr. Akankwasah has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairperson of the Human Resource Committee for Uganda Wildlife Authority.
For over six years, he has also been a governing council member at the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute.
Achievements and Awards
On International Labour Day, 1st May 2024, President Yoweri Museveni awarded him a Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding service and loyalty to the nation, specifically for his contributions to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
In July 2023, Dr. Akankwasah was awarded the Always Be Tolerant Organisation (ABETO) peace awards, qualifying as one of the eight awardees that year. The chairman, founder of ABETO, Moses Musana, described his work methods as that of a lover of peaceful interactions and co-existence.
Under Dr. Akankwasah’s leadership, Uganda was awarded a global accolade in 2025 by the IUCN for its outstanding commitment to biodiversity recovery, evidenced by its National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP).
Editor’s Note: Please contact flashugnews[at]gmail.com if you find any of the content to be inaccurate or outdated.
