Police have arrested five individuals for holding an unauthorized procession at Kitgum House along Jinja Road traffic lights.

Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said that on October 10, 2024, a group of environmental activists from the Weka Afri Sustainable Biodiversity and Food Security Foundation staged a protest in expressing their dissatisfaction with the government and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

According to Onyango, the aim of the protest was to raise awareness about the growing rice cultivation and factory operations in wetlands by Chinese firms licensed by NEMA.

“The group, consisting of three females and two males, were displaying placards and banners calling for action to save Lwera Wetland from Chinese interests,” Onyango said.

He further stated that the suspects were arrested, their file opened, and they are supposed to be charged in court of being a common nuisance.

Onyango added that the suspects are currently being held at Kampala Central Police Station and are expected to appear in court today on Tuesday 10, 2024, as investigations are ongoing.

The incident highlights the ongoing concerns about the degradation of Lwera wetland, which is crucial for regulating the water cycle, preventing floods and droughts, and supporting agriculture and fisheries in surrounding areas.

In July 2024, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) arrested seven Chinese nationals for illegal sand mining in Lwera wetland.