The Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority, Dr. Barirega Akakwasa, says that 214 houses have been demolished by the environmental body in the ongoing exercise to evict people from the Lubigi catchment area in the areas of Nansana, Wakiso district.
His revelation follows an ongoing operation by the authority to evict all those who have occupied the Lubigi wetland.
While protecting environmentally sensitive wetlands is a valid goal, NEMA has pursued this objective in a highly selective and unjust manner, violating the rights of ordinary citizens.
The core issue is that NEMA has allowed large corporations and businesses, including oil depots, factories, and rice farms, to establish operations in these wetland areas. Meanwhile, poorer residents who have lived in the Lubigi wetlands for over a decade have been ruthlessly evicted.
This blatant double standard cannot be justified. The law is clearly not being applied equally, with NEMA showing favouritism towards powerful corporate interests over the livelihoods of vulnerable citizens. The right to life under Uganda’s constitution encompasses the right to livelihood and shelter.
According to Kampala City Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago he says that Kampala Capital City Authority will tomorrow hold a meeting with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) leadership, over Lubigi swamp evictions which left hundreds of people homeless.
During his Sunday visit to the Bwaise III village, where NEMA evictions are expected to continue this week. Lukwago faulted NEMA for breaching during the eviction operations, urging the environment body to halt the operations, until all current legal gaps are settled.