By Curity Ogada
Uganda’s conservation efforts have received a big boost as local geoscientist Syliah Kagiiga has been named the 2026 Wetland Restoration Steward.
Kagiiga was chosen from 1,250 applicants worldwide as one of just five young leaders for the respected Restoration Stewards program.
Organized by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL), this program is often called the “World Cup” for grassroots environmentalists under 35.
Transforming Abandoned Clay Pits into Fish Hubs
Kagiiga’s work focuses on repairing damaged land. In Mutara village, Rukungiri district in western Uganda, abandoned clay mining sites have become deep, dangerous pits that degrade soil and harm wetlands.
Through her social venture, SBE Aquafarm, Kagiiga is changing the situation. She is turning these damaged areas into productive aquaculture hubs. Her approach is straightforward and effective: she restores nature by planting native tree corridors to help the ecosystem, trains local people in sustainable fish farming to support families, and helps farmers connect to markets so they can earn a better living.
Kagiiga dreams of a world where “destroyed lands become sources of life again,” and restoration efforts provide a path for youth to establish “dignified futures.”
Her vision is centered on a holistic recovery “where nature and people heal together,” ultimately turning every neglected mining site into a powerful reminder that “devastation is never the final story.”
Syliah and Allan the District Fisheries Officer, display healthy tilapia harvested from the project pond. Photo SimonPeter Walugyo
African Voices on the Global Stage
Kagiiga is not the only African in this year’s group. She is joined by Ndumbe Knollis Mokake from Cameroon, who is working to restore mountain ecosystems.
Ndumbe believes he is bound by a “duty of change” to protect his local environment, imagining a world where the “mountain ecosystem breathes again,” and natural waterways are replenished.
For Ndumbe, the work goes beyond the physical act of planting trees; he sees his efforts as a way to ensure “young people choose restoration over depletion.” By reviving the land, he believes he is ultimately “restoring hope and dignity for future generations.”
What Do the Stewards Receive?
This recognition comes with more than just a title. The GLF is supporting these young innovators with a package that includes a EUR 5,000 grant (about 20 million UGX) for project funding, mentorship from experienced experts, and opportunities to share their stories at international policy forums and in the media.
According to Eirini Sakellari, the Youth Program Coordinator at the Global Landscapes Forum, the Restoration Stewards initiative is built upon the reality that youth globally are “already pushing the boundaries of what is possible” regarding environmental health and local leadership.
She maintains that the global community’s primary task is to support this existing “courage and creativity with resources, trust and care.”
Introducing the Rest of the 2026 Cohort
Kagiiga and Mokake are part of a global team that also includes Breno Amajunepá from Brazil, who works to treat the Earth as part of humanity rather than just a resource; Gusti Ayu Made Mirah Rismayanti from Indonesia, who helps coastal communities balance life with the sea; and Lizet Mejía from Peru, who is “sowing the seeds of the future” by helping to restore the Amazonian forests.
