The Democratic Party (DP) has asked the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to compensate and resettle the evicted people from Lubigi wetland to reduce the risk of increased criminality in the affected and surrounding areas.
While addressing the press on June 25, 2024, at City House, the DP spokesperson and President of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), Ismail Kirya, urged NEMA to mobilize some funds and compensate the affected families.
“Let NEMA compensate these people as they try to displace them, even if it’s little money, but at least something where they can start from because some people have been there for over 30 years and have nowhere to go,” Kirya said.
Kirya also hinted at how displacement without compensation is going to cause havoc and increase criminality in the affected and surrounding areas.
“If not compensated, these people will become a menace and create havoc in Kampala since some of them will be homeless while others will be unemployed because their small businesses were demolished. This will definitely create insecurity and criminality in Wakiso and surrounding areas,” Kirya added.
According to NEMA, the people being evicted from Lubigi wetland were warned in 2021 and given ample time to vacate the place.
“NEMA issued restoration orders to all encroachers to immediately stop all activities that degrade the wetland, vacate with immediate effect and remove all materials dumped in the wetland, demolish all the erected structures, and gave the affected persons 21 days from the date of receipt of the restoration orders to comply,” the eviction order read in part.
The Lubigi wetland is the largest system serving Kampala city and the neighboring districts to the north and western parts of the city.
The wetland system serves as a critical water catchment area for the central region and is a major source of water for the water-stressed areas of the cattle corridor in central Uganda.
The wetland is critical for flood regulation and pollution control as well as habitat for critical biodiversity, including the national bird, the Grey Crowned Crane.
