Govt orders encroachers off Lubigi wetland
May 16, 2011
THE Government insists that encroachers on Lubigi Wetland must vacate immediately. The invasion by people claiming to be army veterans has destroyed the wetland, which shields northern parts of Kampala from flooding.
By Gerald Tenywa
and Jeff Lule
THE Government insists that encroachers on Lubigi Wetland must vacate immediately. The invasion by people claiming to be army veterans has destroyed the wetland, which shields northern parts of Kampala from flooding.
The swamp takes storm water from River Nsooba, whose flood plain at Bwaise has been destroyed after years of reclamation to pave way for settlement.
The water and environment minister, Maria Mutagamba, yesterday said the encroachers would be evicted before the end of the week.
She explained that the encroachers took advantage of the festivities during the swearing-in of the President to encroach on the wetland.
Mutagamba said she had invited the group’s leaders to discuss the matter, but they declined.
By last evening, the minister was scheduled to meet the Inspector of Police, Maj. Gen Kale Kaiyihura, to plan the movement of troops during the eviction.
Environmentalists from Makerere University yesterday said they were concerned about the destruction of the swamp.
“Do we have a Government or a body in charge of the environment? Why are they waiting for the entire swamp to be destroyed? This is not acceptable,†Dr. Chris Bakunetta, a lecturer at Makerere University, said.
The encroachers, who claim to be operating under their umbrella body of Uganda Patriotic Volunteers Association, said they were marginalised street vendors.
But the head of environment Police, Naboth Kusima, described the group as illegal occupants. “We do not know where they have come from but they are going to be evicted.â€
Kusima said the group, which raided the swamp last Wednesday night, had by yesterday increased to between 3,000 and 5,000 people.
The spokesperson of the encroachers, Dennis Ssebuwufu, however, said they would not vacate the land.
“We know this is illegal but we also want to work and earn a living,†he said.
Ssebuwufu said they had registered 25,000 people.
By press time yesterday, thousands of people continued to cut the papyrus reeds. Others were setting up makeshift stalls.
The group’s chairperson, Richard Lubwama, said the wetland is part of Kabaka’s land and that they did not need permission from anyone to occupy it.
However, another group also claiming ownership, has threatened to take over the swamp.
There was confusion when a group of youth from Kasubi market threatened to cause chaos, claiming it was their land but the Police intervened and calmed them.
“This is our land and we shall not allow strangers to take it. We are going to fight them until they either give us part of it or vacate,†Kenneth Sonko, their councillor, said.
Dan Kyarimpa, 27, a resident of Nansana, a nearby suburb in Wakiso, said he was happy because he had got a place of work.
One of the occupants who declined to be named said they would occupy the swamp in the same way they took over Wakaliga, the Children’s Park at Wandegeya and part of Namanve forest in Kirinya.
By press time, the crowds continued to ferry eucalyptus poles, heaps of murram and other building materials to construct stalls in the swamp.
and Jeff Lule
THE Government insists that encroachers on Lubigi Wetland must vacate immediately. The invasion by people claiming to be army veterans has destroyed the wetland, which shields northern parts of Kampala from flooding.
The swamp takes storm water from River Nsooba, whose flood plain at Bwaise has been destroyed after years of reclamation to pave way for settlement.
The water and environment minister, Maria Mutagamba, yesterday said the encroachers would be evicted before the end of the week.
She explained that the encroachers took advantage of the festivities during the swearing-in of the President to encroach on the wetland.
Mutagamba said she had invited the group’s leaders to discuss the matter, but they declined.
By last evening, the minister was scheduled to meet the Inspector of Police, Maj. Gen Kale Kaiyihura, to plan the movement of troops during the eviction.
Environmentalists from Makerere University yesterday said they were concerned about the destruction of the swamp.
“Do we have a Government or a body in charge of the environment? Why are they waiting for the entire swamp to be destroyed? This is not acceptable,†Dr. Chris Bakunetta, a lecturer at Makerere University, said.
The encroachers, who claim to be operating under their umbrella body of Uganda Patriotic Volunteers Association, said they were marginalised street vendors.
But the head of environment Police, Naboth Kusima, described the group as illegal occupants. “We do not know where they have come from but they are going to be evicted.â€
Kusima said the group, which raided the swamp last Wednesday night, had by yesterday increased to between 3,000 and 5,000 people.
The spokesperson of the encroachers, Dennis Ssebuwufu, however, said they would not vacate the land.
“We know this is illegal but we also want to work and earn a living,†he said.
Ssebuwufu said they had registered 25,000 people.
By press time yesterday, thousands of people continued to cut the papyrus reeds. Others were setting up makeshift stalls.
The group’s chairperson, Richard Lubwama, said the wetland is part of Kabaka’s land and that they did not need permission from anyone to occupy it.
However, another group also claiming ownership, has threatened to take over the swamp.
There was confusion when a group of youth from Kasubi market threatened to cause chaos, claiming it was their land but the Police intervened and calmed them.
“This is our land and we shall not allow strangers to take it. We are going to fight them until they either give us part of it or vacate,†Kenneth Sonko, their councillor, said.
Dan Kyarimpa, 27, a resident of Nansana, a nearby suburb in Wakiso, said he was happy because he had got a place of work.
One of the occupants who declined to be named said they would occupy the swamp in the same way they took over Wakaliga, the Children’s Park at Wandegeya and part of Namanve forest in Kirinya.
By press time, the crowds continued to ferry eucalyptus poles, heaps of murram and other building materials to construct stalls in the swamp.