The Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson, who also doubles as the President of the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), Ismail Kirya, has appreciated the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for the recent operations to evict people from Lubigi wetland in Nansana, Wakiso district.
While speaking to members of the fourth estate at City House party offices in Kampala on June 18, 2024, Kirya appreciated NEMA’s efforts to preserve the Lubigi wetland through evictions but cautioned the officers against applying the law selectively by targeting only the poor.
“We commend efforts by NEMA to protect the few remaining wetlands, and we are in full support, but we have seen the poor being chased away from Lubigi wetland when there is someone who is putting up a structure in the same wetland. This is unfair, and if these evictions are to make sense, then all those who have constructed in the wetland should be given time to leave without favoring anyone,” Kirya said.
Kirya accused NEMA and other district government environmental officers and district planners of being corrupt and approving plans and structures to be erected in wetlands. He called upon the IGG and Uganda Police to investigate and take action against some individuals.
“Some of these people being evicted have been in these wetlands for 30 years, living in structures approved by district planners. There is a lot of corruption and bribery in NEMA that needs to be investigated and culprits arrested,“ he noted.
Kirya’s comments came after NEMA evicted over 100 households in the Lubigi wetland, which is a vital water catchment area for Kampala city and neighboring districts.
NEMA emphasized that the restoration exercise is being carried out in accordance with the National Environment Act, 2019, and the attendant regulations, which prohibit activities that degrade the environment. The authority warned that failure to comply will result in the restoration exercise being carried out at the expense of the encroachers without further notice, and it may recover the expenses incurred as a civil debt in court.
