KCCA names 200 wetland encroachers

Sep 14, 2012

Wetland encroachers in Kampala may have cause to worry following possession by Parliament a list comprising between 150 to 200 plots located within wetlands in the city.

By Joyce Namutebi        

Wetland encroachers in Kampala may have cause to worry following possession by Parliament a list comprising between 150 to 200 plots located within wetlands in the city.  

MPs of the Presidential Affairs Committee had requested for the list during a meeting with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi this week, for action.

"Let them submit all this data so that the committee helps them," MP Sebuliba Mutumba demanded. During the meeting, the MPs also asked for a list of all developments in road reserves.

Musisi had appeared to brief the committee about the disputed structure on Plot 42 Nile Avenue. The structure was demolished yesterday (Thursday) after MPs gave a green light to KCCA.

KCCA Directorate of physical planning which originated the list said in the recent past, Kampala has experienced increased invasion and encroachment on ecologically sensitive areas not only by formal settlements, but by also private developers who have been allocated huge chunks of land in wetlands.

"The private developers have now embarked on massive degradation by dumping soil mass and debris in the wetlands located in Bugolobi, Luzira, Kinawataka, Kyambogo, Kansanga, Lugala, Namungoona, Busega and Nateete, their document said.

The department said that the destruction of these wetlands has resulted into increased flooding in the city and other adverse effects on the environment.

It said that from their cadastral maps, in Butabika there are four plots within the wetland but unnumbered, Luzira has 53 plots demarcated and allocated in wetland, Kyeitabya, 35, Bugolobi, over 20, Lugala, 5, Kansanga, 17, Nateete, 6, Kyambogo, 31, among other areas.

"KCCA has since realized that the allocation of land in critical wetlands cannot be tolerated because of its wider impact on the environment and overall city development. More importantly, the constitution states that the wetlands are held in trust on behalf of all people of Uganda and therefore they cannot be leased for private use."

The department said KCCA communicated to the Director Physical planning and urban development in the Ministry of Lands on their position not to authorize any developments in wetlands even where there are certificates of Environmental Impact Assessment.

When contacted KCCA director physical Planning, Joseph Semambo said they are going to chart the way forward with the presidential affairs committee on Wednesday regarding developments in wetlands and road reserves.

"Some of these things involve some powerful people and we need back up," he said.

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