By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Ministry of Water and Environment in conjunction with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have mercilessly demolished thirteen (13) houses in Nambigirwa wetlands, Katabi Town Council along Entebbe Expressway.
The evicted locals who were evicted on Tuesday, 11th March, 2025 cursed the Executive Director National Environment Management Authority, Dr. Barirega Akankwasa for failing to listen to their petitions despite sending several petitions to his office.
The evicted locals led by James Masereka, castigated the management of National Environment Management Authority for waiting for them to first construct their houses and then later comes in to destroy them.
“If NEMA knew very well that we were constructing in a wetland, they would have stopped us but instead just watched us till today when they came to destroy our houses. At least the ministry would have given us some compensation than chasing us like chicken thugs. Some of us have just taken back our children to school,” Mr. Masereka expressed concern.
In his response to concerns raised by evicted locals, Mr. Wilberforce Wanyama, a senior Wetlands Officer at the Ministry of water and Environment told the press that locals residing within Nambigirwa wetlands were given an ultimatum of 21 days to vacate the place.
Mr. Wanyama revealed that 40% of the disputed wetland had been degraded. He added that the move to demolish the thirteen houses within Nambigirwa wetlands is intended to restore the ecological system of the wetland that has been encroached on by illegal occupants.
“The move is intended to reclaim Nambigirwa wetland. We need to restore the ecological system of the disputed wetland. It’s only those locals on the boundaries of the wetland whose houses survived demolition,” he added.
He also says that none of the affected illegal occupants petitioned their office as some of them claim, adding that in any case, they gave them a fair hearing .
“We caution LC1 Chairpersons to stop selling land within wetland areas,” Mr. Wanyama warned.’
Mr. Grace Mwebaze, an environmental activist in Entebbe, welcomed the move to evict locals within Nambigirwa wetland saying such encroachers are held responsible for the escalating bad climatic conditions like dry weather.
