The Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi has called for a meeting between NEMA, local leaders, and representatives of the evicted residents to address the issues.
He made the call after a dramatic visit to hundreds of stranded residents in Nansana, following their eviction from Lubigi Swamp. NEMA in an ongoing operation aganist enchroachment on wetlands razed down over 300 households in Nansana, Ganda last week.
The most affected residents in Ganda, Nansana and Lubigi.
Ssenyony said there is need for transparent communication and criticized the lack of prior consultations with the affected communities.
“I told the NEMA Executive Director that there is a lot of destruction, and more places have been marked for eviction. I asked him to allow us to hold a meeting with local leaders around Lubigi and representatives from the evicted people so that they can be heard. These people are Ugandans; they aren’t in the bush hiding. Before anything else happens, let this meeting be held. Have they ever held meetings with you? That is what I am against. I don’t want these people to operate on remote control,” Ssenyonyi said.
Ssenyonyi, who addressed the residents before attempting to tour the site, was met with swift police intervention. The confrontation between Ssenyonyi’s team and the police lasted for about five minutes before teargas canisters were deployed to disperse the crowd protesting the police’s actions.
Following the scuffle, Parliament security quickly escorted Ssenyonyi to safety while residents ran in various directions to avoid the teargas. The incident occurred after Ssenyonyi criticized NEMA’s eviction process, accusing the authority of discriminatory practices.
“I have passed by the same place, and there is still a police station and fuel stations. If the evictions are going on, why should they discriminate? There are known wetlands in Uganda full of factories, yet these aren’t being bothered. Perhaps it is because the owners of these businesses have connections to the government or are employed by the government. Why discriminate among citizens in Uganda?” Ssenyonyi questioned.
Ssenyonyi urged residents to stand against human rights violations, highlighting the recent kidnapping of lawmaker Paul Akamba (Busiki County) after being granted bail. He cited this incident as evidence of broader issues that transcend political affiliations.
“These issues of evictions and human rights violations do not discriminate against political affiliations. We have been raising concerns about these violations, and for a long time, our concerns have been ignored because they are raised by members of the National Unity Platform (NUP). Now, you saw one MP, Paul Akamba, given bail but later kidnapped. This is the same issue we raised with Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North), and the NRM MPs didn’t seem concerned. But now, the same issue has come right to their doorsteps,” Ssenyonyi stated.
He also criticized the government’s long-standing tolerance of the residents’ presence, pointing out that many had lived and built businesses in the area for years while the government collected taxes from these businesses.
“I have been told some of you have been here for 5 years, some for 10 years, and one gentleman has lived here for 26 years. You spent all this time constructing while the government watched. Some of you established businesses and have been paying taxes. If the government says these people have occupied these premises illegally, why let them build, stay for this long, and collect taxes from businesses established on illegal premises?” Ssenyonyi asked.
The residents have petitioned court for compensation.Through Eyotre and Company Advocates, a section of the residents have signed a petition to run to court hoping to sue the Attorney General, NEMA, and Buganda Land Board.
The residents claim that they have been evicted unlawfully because they have been paying ground rent and were fully registered by the Buganda Land Board as rightful land owners.