Lands told to cancel leases in wetland
Jun 08, 2010
AN inter-ministerial committee on environment has recommended that leases in wetlands be cancelled. The committee members said this would reduce flooding in the city and protect Lake Victoria from pollution.
By Gerald Tenywa
AN inter-ministerial committee on environment has recommended that leases in wetlands be cancelled. The committee members said this would reduce flooding in the city and protect Lake Victoria from pollution.
A total number of 88 titles are for land in wetlands.
The committee, headed by Janat Mukwaya of the Prime Minister’s office, made the recommendation yesterday after inspecting wetlands in Kampala.
“We have recommended that the wetland titles be forwarded to the Cabinet for cancellation. The developers, Kampala City Council (KCC) and the lands commission will be given a hearing within two weeks,†Mukwaya said.
The team, which included ministers Jessica Eriyo (environment), Matiya Kasaija (internal affairs) Kabakumba Masiko (information) and Fred Mukisa (fisheries), said the land, which was leased to Lubaga North for construction of a market, is part of the Lubigi wetland.
“We would like to believe that the titles were given out in error,†Mukwaya said.
The team visited wetlands on the Northern Bypass, in Kinawataka and Nakivubo.
Recently, media reports said Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala had taken over a large part of the Nakivubo wetland.
Sebaggala said the move was to stop developers from acquiring the land.
Mukwaya said she had instructed the environmental body not to publish the names of the holders of the titles because public interference would make the matter worse.
“We belong to the same government and we should not quarrel in public when there is something wrong. It is important to concede that there is something wrong and find a solution,†she noted.
Asked why KCC was not enforcing the law to check the mushrooming slums in wetlands, town clerk Ruth Kijjambu said the council lacked manpower to handle the situation.
A resident of Butabika only identified as Hajji Katamba said Mukwaya should deal with the rich developers before running after the poor residents.
The ministers cited lack of planning as one of the factors destroying the environment. City planner Charles Kyamanywa said the KCC 10-year plan of 1994 was never implemented.
AN inter-ministerial committee on environment has recommended that leases in wetlands be cancelled. The committee members said this would reduce flooding in the city and protect Lake Victoria from pollution.
A total number of 88 titles are for land in wetlands.
The committee, headed by Janat Mukwaya of the Prime Minister’s office, made the recommendation yesterday after inspecting wetlands in Kampala.
“We have recommended that the wetland titles be forwarded to the Cabinet for cancellation. The developers, Kampala City Council (KCC) and the lands commission will be given a hearing within two weeks,†Mukwaya said.
The team, which included ministers Jessica Eriyo (environment), Matiya Kasaija (internal affairs) Kabakumba Masiko (information) and Fred Mukisa (fisheries), said the land, which was leased to Lubaga North for construction of a market, is part of the Lubigi wetland.
“We would like to believe that the titles were given out in error,†Mukwaya said.
The team visited wetlands on the Northern Bypass, in Kinawataka and Nakivubo.
Recently, media reports said Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala had taken over a large part of the Nakivubo wetland.
Sebaggala said the move was to stop developers from acquiring the land.
Mukwaya said she had instructed the environmental body not to publish the names of the holders of the titles because public interference would make the matter worse.
“We belong to the same government and we should not quarrel in public when there is something wrong. It is important to concede that there is something wrong and find a solution,†she noted.
Asked why KCC was not enforcing the law to check the mushrooming slums in wetlands, town clerk Ruth Kijjambu said the council lacked manpower to handle the situation.
A resident of Butabika only identified as Hajji Katamba said Mukwaya should deal with the rich developers before running after the poor residents.
The ministers cited lack of planning as one of the factors destroying the environment. City planner Charles Kyamanywa said the KCC 10-year plan of 1994 was never implemented.