The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) is expressed no regrets over the destruction of property and emotional distress caused by the ongoing operation to restore Lubigi wetland system, saying the exercise is in order and must continue.
Over the past two weeks, NEMA with support together with teams from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Uganda Police, Uganda People’s Defense Forces, Wakiso District Local Government, Ministry of Works & Transport, Uganda National Roads Authority, Office of the President and the Ministry of Water & Environment intensified efforts to restore Lubigi wetland in enforcement operations which have become both brutal and questionable.
The demolitions and evictions have left a trail of destruction to property and many people homeless with some people accusing NEMA for selective application of the law as well as disregard of human rights of the victims.
But in a press release issued today, NEMA states that the affected people were notified way back in 2021 and therefore the ongoing enforcement operations are lawful.
“Prior to the restoration exercise, NEMA had issued restoration orders from as far as 2021 to all encroachers of the wetland, failure of which, NEMA would enforce the orders at the encroachers’ cost and prosecution of the same where necessary…” The press statement reads in part adding that the exercise has been seamless.
“The restoration exercise has so far removed illegal gardens, makeshift settlements and illegal structures. The law enforcement personnel allow safe evacuation of property and persons, and so far we have not had any injury or physical confrontation during the exercise” before adding; “today some politicians tried to incite the public against the exercise but Nansana police was quick to restore order. Normalcy has returned and the exercise continues”
Lubigi wetland system is the largest system serving Kampala city and the neighboring districts to the north and western parts of the city. The wetland serves as a critical water catchment area for the central region and is a major source of water for the water-stressed areas in the cattle corridor of central Uganda.
NEMA says Lubigi is also critical for food regulation and pollution control as well as a habitat for critical biodiversity including the national bird, the grey-crowned crested crane.
According to the statement, all the encroachers of Lubigi wetland were issued with a 21-day notice with orders to immediately stop all activities that degrade the wetland, demolish all structures, immediately vacate the wetland, restore the degraded land to near original state, and desist from any activities that degrade the environment.
In accordance with The National Environmental Act 2019, digging drainage channels in a wetland, erecting illegal structures, depositing foreign material, and fencing a wetland, are all illegal and prohibited.