Battle for Wetlands

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Uganda a is rapidly losing its wetlands, making it hard to combat climate change and protect wildlife, according to experts.

Recently, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) intensified efforts to evict encroachers on wetlands, particularly in the Lubigi stretch, one of the major wetlands in Kampala city.

More than 600 houses, deemed illegal, have been razed, leaving over 1,000 occupants homeless. However, this drastic measure has sparked mixed reactions from environmental conservationists, human rights activists and politicians.

Measuring about 17,500ha, Lubigi wetland supports a rich biodiversity and provides a source of livelihood for the surrounding communities.

For decades, wetlands have been key ecosystems in the country, promoting agriculture, which is the country’s economic backbone, fi shing, and water purification, among others.

Nevertheless, in recent years, these wetlands have been encroached on and degraded for human settlement, agriculture and other detrimental activities.

In the past, wetlands were often viewed as wastelands, only suitable for conversion into agriculture or urban land for development. It was not until the 1990s that the Government began to recognise their ecological importance. This inspired the creation of NEMA and the introduction of stricter regulations to preserve them.

Despite all these efforts, enforcement has been inconsistent, creating room for the wetlands to continue vanishing due to various human activities.

Govt intervention

In a statement issued on June 18, 2024, NEMA defended its actions, emphasising the necessity of a restoration exercise to protect Lubigi wetland systems, which is a key water catchment for Kampala and its neighbouring districts.

The agency has announced that further operations to evict the encroachers will continue throughout the country to reclaim and restore all the wetlands.

In 2022, President Yoweri Museveni instructed the Kampala resident city commissioner (RCC) to expedite the eviction of those encroaching on Lubigi wetland.

Amina Nanzili Lukanga, the Kampala RCC, said the encroachers were given one month to leave the wetland.

Status of wetlands

The Uganda Wetland Atlas indicates that the wetlands cover approximately 11% of the country’s total land area, which translates to 2.5 million hectares.

Apart from controlling floods, wetlands trap excessive rainfall, purify water, absorb carbon dioxide, trap pollutants and sediments and make the environment cool. This natural filtration process is essential for maintaining water quality in rivers, lakes and groundwater.

Emmanuel Busobozi, the principal environmental officer of water and wetland resources, explained that there are components in wastewater that cannot be removed by artificial systems such as lead, except by natural systems like wetlands.

NEMA created buffer zones for lakes, rivers and wetlands to ensure maximum protection and no activities are allowed within the buffer zone. For lakes like Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, the buffer zone is 200 metres.

For big rivers like the Nile, Sezibwa and Katonga, the buffer zone is 100 metres, while small rivers and wetlands have a buffer zone of 30 metres. However, over the past few decades, Uganda has continued losing significant portions of wetlands in different parts of the country due to various anthropogenic activities.

They are either allocated by the state and local governments or encroached upon for settlement, agriculture, and industrial development. Over 64% of Uganda’s wetlands have been depleted or encroached upon.

Conservation efforts

Despite the challenges, there are ongoing efforts to conserve the wetlands. On February 2, the Government officially gazetted all 8,613 wetlands in the country. The gazette indicates these wetlands are now legally recognised as critical ecosystems, prohibiting activities such as encroachment, drainage and pollution.

This significant decision aligns with the Ramsar Convention and is the result of years of collaboration between the Government, the United Nations Development Programme and other partners on wetland and catchment restoration.

The gazette follows the National Environment Notice 2023 (Declaration of Wetlands) that described key advancements in Uganda’s environmental conservation efforts.

It also provides detailed information such as the name of the wetland, location, size or total area coverage and boundaries. This aims to enhance public awareness and aid in the enforcement of protection measures.

It further encourages a more sustainable wetland management approach, as well as a strong legal model for combating wetland degradation. This includes restoration projects and educational initiatives, as well as the regulation of permitted activities within these vital ecosystems.

In addition, protecting wetlands strengthens the country’s ability to cope with climate change impacts such as floods and droughts.

Environment activists and residents inspect Nakayiba, one of the largest wetlands in Masaka which was encroached on, in May. Activists have called for more sensitisation of communities.

Restoration campaign

In President Yoweri Museveni’s message during the June 5, 2024, World Environment Day celebrations in Sironko district, he emphasised the need to prioritise environmental conservation to safeguard Uganda’s natural resources.

In the message delivered by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Museveni stressed the Government’s ambitious goal of restoring forest cover to at least 50% by 2026. The President called for the increase in use of renewable energy to reduce the pressure on natural forests and the use of firewood.

Protection force

The Environment Protection Force was established under Section 25 of the National Environment Act and operationalised by Statutory Instrument No. 32 of 2024, according to Dr Barirega Akankwasah, the executive director of NEMA. Despite several efforts, NEMA says enforcement remains a hurdle due to limited resources and potential interference.

Costs

Naome Namara Karekaho, the head of public relations at NEMA, said failure to conserve the Lubigi wetland poses several dangers such as consistent loss of biodiversity. She said without conservation, the diverse plant and animal species that rely on the wetland for habitat could face extinction. This loss of biodiversity can disrupt ecosystems and diminish genetic diversity, making the environment less resilient.

In addition, the wetlands support local economies.

“Many local communities rely on the wetland for their livelihoods. So, without it, people might lose access to resources such as fish, clean water, and plants used for food and materials, leading to economic and social hardships,” Namara said.

Regarding the cultural impact, Namara said the wetlands often hold cultural and spiritual significance for local communities and the destruction of these wetlands like Lubigi could result in the loss of traditional practices, heritage sites, and cultural identity.

Still, without this natural protection, surrounding land areas might experience increased erosion and sedimentation, leading to degraded land and reduced agricultural productivity.

Furthermore, wetlands provide spaces for recreation and tourism. “Loss of these wetlands would reduce opportunities for activities such as bird watching, fi shing, and nature walks, impacting both quality of life and potential tourism revenue,” Namara said.

Challenges, criticisms

NEMA and other conservationists attribute the wetland depletion to the inconsistent monitoring and poor enforcement mechanisms that have created room for people to encroach on wetlands, which has made it difficult to evict them.

“For instance, illegal settlements and industries often operate without proper oversight by NEMA or district authorities,” Zepher Bakheiha, the Kalungu district natural resources officer, said.

In addition, the limited funding and manpower gaps are making effective monitoring of wetlands difficult. These limitations are compounded by rampant corruption, where some officials accept bribes to overlook illegal activities.

Bakheiha added that there is growing demand for land and resources driven by population growth, amplifying the problem.

Situation in Greater Masaka

In Greater Masaka, the most affected wetlands include Ramsar sites like Nabajjuzi, Sango Bay and Nabugabo catchment area, as well as other wetlands such as Lwera, Katonga and Nakayiba.

One factor contributing to the wetland decline in the country is agricultural expansion, according to Antonio Kalyango, the executive director of Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, a non-profit organisation focusing on preservation of biodiversity, particularly in Ramser sites like Sango Bay wetlands.

He said efforts to save vital ecosystems are still failing due to a lack of strict enforcement to fight environmental crimes.

“We need to ensure that all illegal licences are revoked and the offenders are held accountable,” Kalyango said.

Erena Nalule, an environmental activist who has monitored the Lwera and Sango Bay wetlands for a while, said natural or human-induced fi res usually spread rapidly during the dry season.

She added that the fires can decimate vegetation and wildlife habitats, leaving the soil exposed and vulnerable to erosion. The aftermath can be a significant loss of biodiversity and disruption of water cycles.

“The smoke and pollutants released during the fi res can affect the environment in terms of air quality and contribute to climate change,” Nalule said.

She added that regular creation of awareness is vital in ensuring that the communities hosting the wetlands can protect them.

“The challenge still lies with companies that use wetlands without Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). Some present EIA, but they do contrary to the conditions set,” Nalule said.

However, NEMA has said they revoke licences of companies that violate the terms set. Still, regarding the Zhong Rice factory in Lwera wetland in Kalungu district, NEMA noted that the company has obtained a five-year licence, but the new NEMA management is waiting for the expiration of this period to decide on the next course of action.