KCC Halts Allowing Houses In Wetlands
Sep 08, 2003
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) has stopped authorising construction of structures and buildings in city wetlands, the Town Clerk, Gordon Mwesigye, said yesterday.
By Catherine Ntabadde
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) has stopped authorising construction of structures and buildings in city wetlands, the Town Clerk, Gordon Mwesigye, said yesterday.
Mwesigye told The New Vision at his office at City Hall that structures or buildings constructed without KCC’s approval would be demolished.
“We are implementing the Central Government’s directive,†he said, “We are not approving any plans of people who want to build in wetlands. We take environmental issues seriously.â€
Former environment state minister Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo on April 28 directed KCC to demolish structures erected in city wetlands after the 1995 environment laws.
Mwesigye said KCC did not authorise encroachment on wetlands.
Mwesigye, however, said developers whose plans were approved sometime back but were just starting to construct buildings, would not be affected by the exercise.
He said most structures, especially industries built in wetlands, were set up long before the environment laws where enacted.
“What will you say about the wetlands of Industrial Area, Mukwano and Ntinda Industrial Area?†he asked.
The city secretary for works, Amis Bireke, said the Central Government should gazette wetlands.
Ends
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) has stopped authorising construction of structures and buildings in city wetlands, the Town Clerk, Gordon Mwesigye, said yesterday.
Mwesigye told The New Vision at his office at City Hall that structures or buildings constructed without KCC’s approval would be demolished.
“We are implementing the Central Government’s directive,†he said, “We are not approving any plans of people who want to build in wetlands. We take environmental issues seriously.â€
Former environment state minister Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo on April 28 directed KCC to demolish structures erected in city wetlands after the 1995 environment laws.
Mwesigye said KCC did not authorise encroachment on wetlands.
Mwesigye, however, said developers whose plans were approved sometime back but were just starting to construct buildings, would not be affected by the exercise.
He said most structures, especially industries built in wetlands, were set up long before the environment laws where enacted.
“What will you say about the wetlands of Industrial Area, Mukwano and Ntinda Industrial Area?†he asked.
The city secretary for works, Amis Bireke, said the Central Government should gazette wetlands.
Ends