By Ambrose Gahene,
NATIONAL
Dr. Akankwasa Barirega, the executive director, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has said wetland encroachers face up to 12 years imprisonment or a fine of 600 million Uganda shillings or both if proved guilty by competent courts of Law.
“It is an offense under Section 55 of the National Environment Act, 2019 to encroach on wetlands. This offense has a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail or a UGX 600 million fine, or both,” Akankwasah said.
Dr. Akankwasa was addressing Journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday when he revealed that NEMA’s ongoing operation to evict wetland encroaches is targeting a total of 315 marked houses, whose owners have already been served with what he termed as; “wetland restoration orders”.
“If you know that you are in a wetland, please vacate peacefully and you may not be prosecuted,” he said.
He castigated social media rumors that the recently evicted people in Lubigi Wetland in Wakiso District had lived in the area for over 60 years.
“We have satellite images which show that people started encroaching on Lubigi wetland from 2011, where the pick encroachment happened in 2012”, he added.
According to NEMA, preserving wetlands is very important to guarantee the availability of the clean water, consumed by human beings and animals. Dr. Akankwatsa added that wetlands are home to many bird species and insects that pollinate the wild plants needed for human and wildlife existence.
“No amount of money can buy the rainfall needed for Agriculture activities or the oxygen we need for breathing”, he pointed out.
Asked by Journalists on where NEMA was when people were encroaching on Lubigi wetland, Dr. Akankwasa said the mandate of supervising wetlands lies with Local Governments and the Ministry of Water and Environment.
“NEMA currently has 217 staff that cannot be spread across the entire country to apprehend wetland encroachers”, he further explained.
He noted that NEMA’s primary role is to coordinate the various sister Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) mandated with the role of protecting the environment. Barirega further tasked the population to protect the environment because it’s a citizenry duty guaranteed under section 3 of the NEMA Act, 2019.
“Section 3 of the National Environment Act, 2019 places the duty on Every Person to Create, Maintain and Enhance the Environment including the duty to prevent pollution.”
