Kole locals cautioned against continued wetland rice farming

Kole | In recent years, human activities, both industrial and agricultural, have caused far more harm than good, particularly to wetlands and entire ecosystems.

With the devastating impact of climate change, the government intervened by prohibiting continuous wetland degradation throughout the country.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently increased his opposition to the practice, issuing directives as early as 2019, though they were rarely implemented. 

However, in July 2021, a cabinet resolution was passed and communicated to the Minister of State for Environment, Beatrice Anywar, imposing a ban on rice farming in wetlands.

The directive is one of several ways to restore the environment.

Following the directive issued to RDCs across the country to ensure that the ban is enforced, Josephine Omara Olili, the Resident District Commissioner of Kole district, arrested three locals on Wednesday 12 for cultivating in the wetlands of Alito and Aboke sub-counties.

While monitoring government projects, RDC Olili discovered that most locals continued to cultivate in wetlands despite the president’s ban.

In an exclusive phone interview with tndNews, Olili identified the apprehended as Jane Vereda, 38, of Lira City, and Eveline Akello of Barongin.

The two were discovered cultivating rice in the Otirit wetland in Barongin, Alito sub-county Kole north. 

Another suspect, Tom Awio, 45, was also discovered cultivating rice in Acweoanyira swamp in Aboke sub-county.

“The arrested suspects Jane Vereda of 38, from Tororo but married in Lango is a resident of Adyel Kasubi in Lira was found cultivating rice in Okwerodot sub-county, Kole district, Evaline Akello, 35, arrested from Alito sub-county. “These are people from other districts, and this must stop,” stated the RDC.

On Thursday, the RDC confirmed that the suspects were in custody at Kole Central Police Station.

“They are under the watch of Kole Central Police Station and later, they will be followed up and arraigned in court to serve as a deterrent to people still violating the presidential executive order.”

Olili warned those who relocated from other districts to Kole with the intention of farming in the Kole wetlands not to try because they would face the wrath of the law.