Wetlands under threat

ENVIRONMENT 

MBARARA - The flooding that has caused havoc in different parts of the country has not spared Mbarara city. The problem is not about to stop, basing on the continued encroachment on wetlands and greenbelts in Mbarara.

Heavy trucks are always seen ferrying murram during the dry season and dumping it in the city's wetlands and greenbelts to create more land for construction.

Magnificent buildings of encroachers have already been constructed, while others are under construction in the Biafra-Kiyanja-Nkokonjeru and Kakyeka eco-systems.

The other greenbelt that is being taken over by encroachers is Biafra-Makenke Koranorya in Mbarara North division under the nose of leaders and environmentalists.

According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the greenbelts/wetlands should be protected for the well-being of city dwellers.

Last week, floods wreaked havoc in Biharwe division, destroying property, especially of people who built houses in wetlands and low-lying areas.

NEMA boss blames local leaders

Dr Tom Okurut, the executive director of NEMA, while speaking to journalists during a media engagement meeting at NEMA House in Kampala, blamed the local leaders for failing to protect the wetlands.

"It is unfortunate that local leaders are not doing their job of protecting the wetlands. They are accomplices because wetlands have been given out by some of them. It is the weak local leadership that is fanning this. They have failed to stop environmental degradation by allowing illegal developments in greenbelts," Okurut explained.

He challenged district leaders and the community to work with NEMA to protect wetlands and save lives and property from being destroyed by floods during heavy rains.

Jeconius Musingwire, the southwestern regional manager for NEMA, said greenbelts play a key role in controlling surface water runoff from buildings, roads and stabilise the underground water system. He said nobody should, therefore, degrade wetlands.

Musingwire said the city council, technocrats and public need to take care of the green belts for a sustainable city.

"The infrastructure development, which moves with urbanisation, should be properly planned so that the green belts are protected. These

green belts were set aside mainly to take care of surface runoff water. The moment you construct structures, you are creating canopies and these roof canopies will generate a lot of water," he explained. Musingwire added that the expansion of the road network is also a contributing factor of surface runoff water, noting that if not taken care of, it increases flooding in urban areas.

"Our city has experienced flooding, especially in Kakyeka, Biafra, Makenke and Koranorya drainage systems. These drainage systems were previously green belts, but because of poor physical planning, most of these fragile eco-systems were encroached on by developers," he said.

Musingwire said people should know that nature fights back and it is against this background that the World Environment Day theme, Nature is crying foul for itself, was based.

"We have squeezed nature and it is now is crying. That is why we have incidences of flooding and collapsing buildings because the water that could have sipped inside the wetlands has found an alternative place," he said.

River Rwizi effect

Musingwire added that another area which would have helped to take care of the surface runoff water are the rivers, but their banks have been encroached on.

Quoting the National Environment Act, he said: "River Rwizi has a buffer zone of 100 metres from the highest water mark, but the place has been

encroached on. The buffer zone was set aside for any surface runoff water to be filtered there before going to the river."

Musingwire attributed all encroachment to corruption, bribery and the laxity of urban authorities in enforcing the law.

Solid waste management effect

Musingwire said the increasing urban population is generating more solid waste, whose management remains a challenge.

"If you do not plan properly for the generated solid waste, where will it end up? We shall have a city with poor health and sanitation conditions," he said.

He said Mbarara city uses the Kenkombe sanitary land fill for solid waste management and recycling of organic matter for manure.

However, when you go there, especially during the rainy season, the place becomes a menace as the rubbish is not properly managed.

Deputy clerk speaks

Richard Mugisha, the Mbarara city deputy clerk, said there was laxity in the protection of the wetlands from the encroachers.

He blamed NEMA officials for failing to gazette all the greenbelts in Mbarara.

"NEMA should gazette all the wetlands. In Kakiika division, the encroachers poured murram on Mbarara modern wetland and when council went to stop them, it was discovered that they had clearance from NEMA. This frustrated our efforts to stop the developers," he said.

Mugisha said Mbarara City Council will not allow people to buy and develop land that is less than 100x100ft.

He said the council has embarked on community sensitization on land acquisition, as well as wetland and solid waste management. Mugisha said they had contracted companies to manage solid waste under the supervision of city health inspectors, who will ensure that garbage is picked from people's homes and sorted.

Apollo Mabati, chairperson of veterans in Kiruhura district: Those encroaching on wetlands are people's enemies because floods do not spare the rich and the poor.

Developers should be stopped or evicted from the greenbelts before things get out of hand.

Doris Amumpaire, resident of Kakiika: It is the mandate of the Government to protect its citizens by providing good health and sanitation. I, therefore, call upon government bodies, especially the physical planning office and NEMA, to save us from floods.

Lydia Asiimwe, resident of Makenke cell: I blame local leaders, NEMA and technocrats for the encroachment on wetlands.

They either fail to monitor developments or take bribes. They should know how these people get plots in wetlands.