NEMA, allow people to relocate before demolishing their houses, says UPC

Kampala | According to UPC, Uganda’s largest population share is made up of young people, which puts pressure on all natural resources.

In a statement, the UPC party stated that a clear analysis shows that land as a natural resource is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive, emphasising the importance of proper land use patterns in order to secure the future.

On June 19, 2024, the opposition political party expressed concern as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) began an operation to protect wetlands in the Kampala Metropolitan Area and upcountry districts.

NEMA has conducted extensive enforcement operations in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono, evicting settlers and destroying their property.

“UPC would like to emphasise that the key stakeholders, central government, local government, and NEMA, failed to stop wetland encroachment,” said Muzeyi Faizo, UPC’s head of media and communications.

He observed that human activities such as hunting, fishing, raw material collection, pottery and basket making, as well as the establishment of factories and human settlements, have expanded beyond the scope of normal wetland activities.

“This is very much harmful to the country as we need to be conscious of the consequences of climate change,” he added, adding, “Wetlands in general contribute a lot in moderating climate and weather, very key as water reservoirs thus reducing on occurrence of floods.”

Wetlands, according to Faizo, provide year-round pasture for livestock and serve as a home for insects, animals, and birds (ecosystem).

“UPC welcomes the government’s initiative of irrigation scheme. However, we cannot advance with irrigation as a modern means of farming when our wetlands are not protected.

“There is also a public outcry that NEMA is evicting people selectively. This is very wrong and UPC reiterates that the law should be enforced fairly with goodwill and without shielding any individual.”

UPC reminds the government of her responsibility to protect the people and their property. “So, even the evicted people and or those to be evicted from the wetlands deserve care and help from the government.

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“The people should also be allowed to relocate all their property before demolishing their houses as opposed to the ongoing ruthless acts of NEMA’s enforcement officers.”

The Jimmy Akena-led UPC urged the government and key stakeholders on Wednesday to rethink how to best resettle people displaced by wetlands evictions.

“Equally, the youthful population should be catered for by opening up virgin areas in the country and develop them as proper settlement schemes. This protects the wetlands and general environment as everything is done with proper land use patterns.”

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Faizo believes that despite the high investment, it is a worthwhile endeavour. Previously, it was used to address overpopulation in the Kigezi sub-region, which was later relocated to Bunyoro, Ankole, and Toro sub-regions in the 1960s and 1970s.

“To date, Bunyoro has continued to host our people who have been affected by landslides and floods,” he added.

What NEMA says

According to the Authority, 72% of Lubigi wetland, located west of Kampala has been lost due to ecroachment.

It further say that out of 1721 hectares of Lubigi wetland, only 481 hectares is left intact.