By Weswa Ronnie
SIRONKO
Authorities in Sironko district have revealed that they are facing challenges in evicting people living in wetland areas following the Presidential directive.
Last year, President Museveni issued a directive of evicting all people living or operating on wetlands as a way of conserving the environment.
While speaking on Thursday, 25th April, 2024 during the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Sironko district leaders and media engagement meeting at Sironko district local government offices, Teddy Nabukwasi, the Sironko district environmental officer said that they have on several occassions attempted to implement the directive but they have been challenged by encroachers.
She added that the wetland encroachers challenge them by saying they can’t leave wetlands yet the government under NEMA has granted permission to Mbale and Namanve Industrial Parks to operate from swamps.
Nabukwasi says that if the government wants people to vacate swamps, it must stop giving investors swamps to operate from.
William Lubuulwa, the communication officer of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) said that from 2021, NEMA stopped issuing land titles of Forest reserve or wetlands to anybody.
Paulo Wamono, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Sironko expressed his happiness with the engagement saying this is going to help them in fighting the wetland encroachment.
