The legislators on the Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) have grilled the Executive Director of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Barirega Akankwasah, over wetland evictions.

On Wednesday, June 26th, 2024, the committee that is currently investigating the eviction of residents from Lubigi wetland by NEMA interfaced with Akankwasah.

Akankwasah, while appearing before the committee, denied selective eviction of wetland encroachers and accused a section of Ugandans of sabotaging their operations and blamed them for creating and circulating fake video clips depicting evicted residents of Lubigi wetland wailing, saying these were only intended to bastardize the restoration exercise.

According to Akankwasah, encroachers are often given a chance to remove their property before the structures are demolished, and no single person has been manhandled or injured during the operation.

“The issue of the lady crying is not in Lubigi. I want to assure you that we have a human face; we know that these are Ugandans,” Akankwasah said.

He emphasized that the wetland restoration exercise is a government-led initiative, and the residents are given ample time to vacate the area.

“Even those who request additional time are granted it, and there is no emergency or rush to complete the operation,” he added.

During the COSASE hearing, MP Peter Okeyoh, of Bukooli Island, expressed concern about how a lake has encroached on his residential home.

“The lake has moved about 50 meters closer to my home, which was initially located more than 200 meters from the lake source,” said MP Okeyoh.

The COSASE investigation into the Lubigi wetland evictions continues, with both the government and the affected residents seeking to reach a fair and amicable solution to the ongoing environmental restoration exercise.