Over 200 households have seen their homes demolished by the National Environment Management Authority in the ongoing exercise to evict all those that have been occupying space in the Lubigi catchment area The revelations come as NEMA moves to restore the Lubigi wetland after it was encroached on over the years.
According to NEMA, the wetland measures up to 1,721 hectares but only 481 of this or a third is remaining. In the same vein, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has asked the executive director of NEMA to halt the ongoing demolitions in the parts of Bwaise, until they set up a select committee to oversee the exercise.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, NEMA Executive Director, Dr.Akanwasah Barirega said whereas they have been accused of not notifying the evictees in Lubigi, this is not true.
“This same process was duly followed for the Lubigi operation and restoration orders were issued and people were warned to leave from as far as February to April 2016 for Nansana, 2018 Nabweru area, 2019 Nabisasiro, Aug 2022 – Nansana, Sentema, Busega and Nabisasiro, December 2023 Busega and April 2024 Lubigi. Earlier in 2012, major evictions were carried out in Lubigi which resulted into successful evictions of Bemba Musota (the witchdoctor) and the taxi park,” Barirega said.
“This is a countrywide exercise and we call upon everyone in wetlands to vacate peacefully to avoid the inconvenience that may come along with enforcement operations.”
The NEMA boss however said there will be no compensation to those whose houses and other properties have been or will be destroyed during the ongoing eviction exercise.
“ Ordinarily the evicted encroachers are supposed to compensate Government for the cost of restoration in line with Section 133 of the National Environment Act, 2019. Government cannot therefore compensate encroachers as this would not only invite more encroachments but also would be tacit approval of illegality.”