If the accusations levelled against Kitagwenda businessman Vincent Bagambe are true, then he must be regretting refusing to co-operate with the district’s environment office and Police after he uprooted wetland demarcation pillars in Muruhiga, Kabujogera town council last month. 

However, the businessman was tracked and arrested on Tuesday by the regional Environment Police from his coffee factory in Ibanda town and detained in Mbarara awaiting an appearance in court. 

According to Kitagwenda district senior environment officer Anthony Kalyegira, Bagambe had been in hiding, but his luck ran out on Tuesday morning when the Mbarara-based unit arrested him in Ibanda.

It is reported that the businessman uprooted six pillars on November 8, 2022, which were planted in the section of the wetland that is in his land during the October 24-30, 2022, demarcation exercise by the water and environment ministry in Kitagwenda.

Bagambe being arrested by the Environment Police on Tuesday December 20

The ministry demarcated up to 34km of buffer zones in three wetlands -- Kyarutanga, Kanunka and Ruhagura -- all found in Kabujogera town council, which form part of Rwamba and Mpanga rivers system.  

“However, Bagambe adamantly uprooted the six pillars planted in part of the wetland in his land and started bragging about it,” the senior environment officer, in a telephone interview on December 21, said.

The pillars were later dumped at a community church several kilometres away from his land. 

“When we got reports about it, we went to the scene to verify and later reported the matter to the Police, but he ignored Police summons to record a statement,” Kalyegira said.

His alleged acts contravened Section 37 of the national environment, wetlands, rivers and lakeshore regulations.

Kalyegira also rubbished Bagambe’s claims that he had bribed officials and the Police, saying he was using the assertions so he is seen by the public as an ‘untouchable’ who can get away with any impunity.

On conviction, the suspect is liable to spend three months in jail or pay a fine of up to shillings three million and be required to carry out community service related to the conservation of wetlands. 

"We will be pushing for community service because we want other members of society to learn from him. If people see that a big businessman has been convicted and made to restore the wetland, they will think twice before encroaching on wetlands or destroying the environment,” he added.