Authorities in Mbarara city western Uganda have embarked on a campaign to restore over 4000 hectares of destroyed wetlands, with the restoration campaign aligning with the Presidential directive to evict all wetland encroachers in hotspots across Uganda.
David Sancho, the City Natural Resource Officer says the city has lost over 4,000 hectares of wetland to encroachers who have destroyed them by backfilling them with soil, planting eucalyptus trees, constructing buildings, and digging trenches that drain water from the wetlands.
The most affected wetland of Rucece in Nyakayojo covers over 1,500 hectares in three wards in Mbarara City North Division and has been infringed on by people who claim to have land titles and are threatening to sue the government.
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According to the Mbarara City North Division Environment officer Edgar Nabaasa, they are to embark on forceful eviction of encroachers noting that they have done sensitizations and issued eviction notices to people. Some locals have already agreed to harvest their crops and are willing to cut down the trees planted.
ENFORCEMENT AT VILLAGE LEVEL, AND CHALLENGES: Nabaasa said that they have set up village wetland protection committees that will be tasked with monitoring and assisting in enforcement. He adds that they are failing full restoration of wetlands because they are faced with the challenge of a lack of provision of alternative sources of livelihood for people who are evicted and those that are willing to move out of wetlands.
Sancho decried the lack of adequate funds to fight encroachers, do the restorations, and provide alternative livelihood sources noting that all the activities need over 100 Million shillings.
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Robert Kanusu, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner of Mbarara City North Division said that the government will continue to evict encroachers and guide people on the importance of wetlands. Mbarara City has wetlands that include Rucece, Koramorya, and Nyakisharara that cover 5,000 hectares.
SELECTIVE APPLICATION OF THE LAW: Locals have however accused authorities for harassing poor locals who plant vegetables, sugar canes and other crops in the wetlands yet it leaves those constructing buildings in wetlands.
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ALSO READ: Stabex International Ltd constructing a fuel station in Makenke wetland, Mbarara city western Uganda. Local authorities have failed to halt the degradation,saying State House is aware. https://x.com/RiseNewsUganda/status/1712408036952658323?s=20
