The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has expressed concerns over the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA)’s failure to prevent wetland encroachment. \
This follows NEMA’s recent operation to evict people from the Lubigi Wetland.
During a weekly press conference at Uganda House in Kampala, the party’s head of media and communications, Faizo Muzeyi, criticized NEMA for “sleeping” while people encroached on wetlands.
He questioned why the authority did not act sooner and emphasized the need for clear land use guidelines as Uganda’s population continues to grow, putting increasing pressure on natural resources.
“Land as a natural resource is becoming scarce and expensive. This calls for proper land use planning to secure our future,” said Muzeyi.
He highlighted that the operation to protect wetlands should involve all key stakeholders, including the central and local governments. UPC also questioned the role of various authorities in allowing wetland encroachment and stressed the need for consistent enforcement of environmental laws.
“Activities in wetlands have gone beyond traditional uses like hunting and fishing to constructing permanent homes and establishing factories. This indicates a failure by NEMA and local authorities to protect these vital ecosystems,” Muzeyi stated.
He warned of the harmful consequences of such activities, including climate change impacts, reduced flood mitigation, and loss of habitats for wildlife.
Muzeyi also addressed public concerns about selective evictions from wetlands, urging that the law be enforced fairly and without favoring any individuals or large companies. He called on the government to provide support and relocation assistance to those being evicted.
Furthermore, the UPC proposed opening up new areas for settlement to manage population pressure and protect wetlands. They cited the successful relocation efforts in the West Nile region during the 1960s and 1970s as a model.
Comments are closed.