214 Households Removed from Lubigi Wetland, More Evictions Planned

A total of 214 households have been removed from the Lubigi wetland, with 101 more slated for eviction, bringing the total to 315 mapped and served households. This was announced by Dr. Akankwasah Barirega, the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), during a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday.

Barirega explained that this operation is part of a nationwide effort, urging those residing in wetlands to vacate peacefully to avoid inconveniences from enforcement operations. In response to calls from politicians for the compensation of affected persons, Barirega clarified that compensation is not feasible.

“Ordinarily, the evicted encroachers are supposed to compensate the government for the cost of restoration in line with Section 133 of the National Environment Act, 2019. Compensating encroachers would not only invite more encroachments but also be a tacit approval of illegality,” Barirega stated.

Critics on social media and some politicians have questioned why certain establishments are allowed to continue operations in wetlands while poorer residents are evicted. Barirega responded that the law enforcement exercise targets anyone who has violated the law, but some infrastructures, like fuel stations and factories, had received government approvals and removing them would incur liabilities.

“For example, a fuel station in Lubigi received approvals in 2017. Some other establishments with past approvals, including factories, remain until the government decides on their cases. This is not selective enforcement but rather a prudent measure to avoid loss of public funds through avoidable compensations,” he explained.

Satellite images and NEMA monitoring indicate that most encroachments in the Lubigi wetland occurred between 2011 and 2015, with evictions and re-entry continuing to date. The peak of encroachment was as recent as 2022.

Barirega also addressed why NEMA took so long to evict the encroachers, explaining that the day-to-day management of wetlands is the responsibility of local governments, urban authorities, and the Department of Wetlands Management, Ministry of Water and Environment. NEMA’s role is regulatory, monitoring, supervision, and coordination.

“We are aware that the mandated institutions lack adequate personnel, equipment, and operational funds to monitor every inch of wetlands in Uganda. For instance, NEMA had only 65 to 132 staff until last year, when it increased to 217. Ideally, we need 2,570 staff, including 2,000 enforcement personnel. Most districts have no more than three environment personnel. Even with all resources available, it’s impractical to oversee every inch of Uganda’s wetlands. Encroachers mostly degrade at night and weekends under the cover of darkness,” he explained.

Barirega further emphasized that Section 3 of the National Environment Act, 2019, places the duty on every person to create, maintain, and enhance the environment, including preventing pollution. The government’s role is to hold those who fail to fulfill this duty accountable.

“Anyone who degrades the environment commits an offense and can be prosecuted or evicted. This liability has no time limit, and the government can act anytime. We all need to be responsible for protecting the environment and not wait to be stopped from committing a crime. Waiting will make you responsible for your actions as per the law,” he said.

Uganda’s wetland cover reduced from 15.6% in 1994 to 8.9% in 2019, with a slight recovery to 9.3% recently. To prevent further wetland loss, a decision was made to suspend approvals for developments in wetlands from September 2, 2021, except for critical public infrastructure projects guided by Environment and Social Impact Assessment Processes.

Efforts to halt wetland loss and restore degraded areas are ongoing, including operations in Lwera Wetlands, Lurindo wetland in Rukungiri, Akadot wetlands in Kumi, Kanyabukanja wetland in Buhweju, Kole wetlands in Kole, Rwizi Wetlands in Mbarara, Kitagata wetlands in Bushenyi, Pece wetland in Gulu, Nakaiba in Masaka, and Kyabwato and Rwengwe wetlands in Ntungamo.

Wetlands play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle, influencing rainfall, temperature regulation, local climate, cloud formation, and flood mitigation. They are significant carbon sinks, helping reduce greenhouse gas levels and mitigating climate change.