Lutembe Bay is being destroyed and nobody cares! Not even NEMA!
Apr 29, 2003
SIR— The New Vision of April 21 reported a looming catastrophe to one of the proposed Ramsar sites in Uganda, Lutembe Bay on the shores on Lake Victoria, 16km along Entebbe Road.
SIR— The New Vision of April 21 reported a looming catastrophe to one of the proposed Ramsar sites in Uganda, Lutembe Bay on the shores on Lake Victoria, 16km along Entebbe Road. The site is the most important area for the conservation of water birds in Uganda. The survival of an entire population of one species depends on this bay.
Nature Uganda has been monitoring the site since 1995 and the data available indicates that Lutembe Bay regularly holds the entire population of the migrant white-winged black tern, 50% of the migrant gull-billed tern, 1% of the migrant lesser black-backed gull, the slender-billed gull, the black-headed gull, the whiskered tern and the resident grey-headed gull. The bay and its fringing swamp contain three globally threatened species, i.e. the globally vulnerable papyrus yellow warbler, the near-threatened papyrus gonolek and the shoebill. Recent surveys indicate the presence of the aeschynomene plant species that is not known anywhere in central and eastern Africa.
Lutembe Bay is now a globally important site for the conservation of these species. Destroying the bay means condemning the entire population of the white-winged black tern and half the global population of the gull-billed tern. The importance of the site has been published and the information distributed to all concerned organisations and institutions at national and international levels.
The global importance of the site does not lie in the occurrence of the species alone. Lutembe Bay is a must-visit site for most tourists coming into Uganda, especially birdwatchers. Nature Uganda, the Uganda Bird Guides Club, the Uganda Tourism Board, and a local interest group in Lutembe have all been promoting the site as important for eco-tourism. The site is now known to many visitors interested in eco-tourism, having made Lutembe Beach which had lain in ruin for a long time, one of the popular weekend spots around Kampala. Thus it is a great investment spot.
Sadly, one of the investment ventures that have sprung up is flower farming. Five flower farms surround the bay. The conduct of the farmers is in utter disregard of environment standards and this continues unabated. This important site will soon be no more. One such farm is Rosebud Ltd, owned by Sudhir Ruparelia. Before Sudhir bought off the original owner of the farm, there was some sanity and farmers seemed to recognise the importance of the bay. But now, it is total chaos at the site. The fringing swamp is being filled to create more room for flower farms. This fringing habitat contains the globally threatened species. Two massive clearances have been done on two fronts and debris and murram from the flattened peninsula are being used to fill the real bay where the migratory species of birds feed and roost.
To my surprise, all this is happening with the full knowledge of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The conduct of this farm was reported to the Wetlands Inspection Division (WID) in November last year. This was later brought to the attention of NEMA. WID has occasionally sent teams to this area but they have been denied entrance by the farm managers. Even NEMA has been repulsed from the same farm and it has not raised a finger. Nature Uganda, through the chairman, Dr Panta Kasoma, has officially written to the NEMA executive director about this site and nothing has been done.
Yet filling of the wetland and bay is still going on with three bulldozers working day and night at the site. With all due respect, NEMA should show their sense of duty. Unless NEMA stops this activity and a restoration order is given, our partners in Europe are more than ready to reduce the flower intake over such destructive methods on the environment. Nature Uganda will not be to blame for the consequences.
Achilles Byaruhanga
Executive Officer, NatureUganda
Nature Uganda has been monitoring the site since 1995 and the data available indicates that Lutembe Bay regularly holds the entire population of the migrant white-winged black tern, 50% of the migrant gull-billed tern, 1% of the migrant lesser black-backed gull, the slender-billed gull, the black-headed gull, the whiskered tern and the resident grey-headed gull. The bay and its fringing swamp contain three globally threatened species, i.e. the globally vulnerable papyrus yellow warbler, the near-threatened papyrus gonolek and the shoebill. Recent surveys indicate the presence of the aeschynomene plant species that is not known anywhere in central and eastern Africa.
Lutembe Bay is now a globally important site for the conservation of these species. Destroying the bay means condemning the entire population of the white-winged black tern and half the global population of the gull-billed tern. The importance of the site has been published and the information distributed to all concerned organisations and institutions at national and international levels.
The global importance of the site does not lie in the occurrence of the species alone. Lutembe Bay is a must-visit site for most tourists coming into Uganda, especially birdwatchers. Nature Uganda, the Uganda Bird Guides Club, the Uganda Tourism Board, and a local interest group in Lutembe have all been promoting the site as important for eco-tourism. The site is now known to many visitors interested in eco-tourism, having made Lutembe Beach which had lain in ruin for a long time, one of the popular weekend spots around Kampala. Thus it is a great investment spot.
Sadly, one of the investment ventures that have sprung up is flower farming. Five flower farms surround the bay. The conduct of the farmers is in utter disregard of environment standards and this continues unabated. This important site will soon be no more. One such farm is Rosebud Ltd, owned by Sudhir Ruparelia. Before Sudhir bought off the original owner of the farm, there was some sanity and farmers seemed to recognise the importance of the bay. But now, it is total chaos at the site. The fringing swamp is being filled to create more room for flower farms. This fringing habitat contains the globally threatened species. Two massive clearances have been done on two fronts and debris and murram from the flattened peninsula are being used to fill the real bay where the migratory species of birds feed and roost.
To my surprise, all this is happening with the full knowledge of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The conduct of this farm was reported to the Wetlands Inspection Division (WID) in November last year. This was later brought to the attention of NEMA. WID has occasionally sent teams to this area but they have been denied entrance by the farm managers. Even NEMA has been repulsed from the same farm and it has not raised a finger. Nature Uganda, through the chairman, Dr Panta Kasoma, has officially written to the NEMA executive director about this site and nothing has been done.
Yet filling of the wetland and bay is still going on with three bulldozers working day and night at the site. With all due respect, NEMA should show their sense of duty. Unless NEMA stops this activity and a restoration order is given, our partners in Europe are more than ready to reduce the flower intake over such destructive methods on the environment. Nature Uganda will not be to blame for the consequences.
Achilles Byaruhanga
Executive Officer, NatureUganda