The spokesperson of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, Moses Ssalongo Matovu, has accused the officers of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of applying selective justice in their current operations to chase people out of swamps and wetlands.

While addressing the media on June 17, 2024, at their party headquarters in Rubaga, Kampala, the NEED spokesperson commended the efforts by NEMA to keep people away from wetlands but accused it of applying selective justice where only the poor are being targeted for demolitions as the rich are given certificates to settle and operate in wetlands.

“The poor are not allowed to build in wetlands and cut forests, but the rich who have money are given permission to build and destroy the environment. If we are to preserve the environment, the NEMA laws should be fair to all, whether rich or poor,” Matovu said.

Matovu also accused local government officials of being part of the big problem when they are the same people issuing certificates and approving building plans for people to construct in wetlands.

“The local authorities and NEMA officers who allow people to build in swamps should be arrested for approving plans for people to build in swamps after being given bribes,“ Matovu added.

Matovu’s remarks came after NEMA demolished structures of residents in Nansana parish, Nansana municipality in Wakiso district, where many residents claim they were targeted because they are poor, as big factories and businesses like Stabex petrol stations all located in the same neighborhood remained unaffected by the demolitions because they received NEMA certificates allowing them to operate in the said Lubigi wetland.