By Edward Byamukama
The police in Kagadi have arrested nine people for allegedly encroaching on wetlands.
The suspects are Racheal Alishaba, Agness Ninsiima, Racheal Kamukama, Omuhereza Kemigisha, Omuhereza Akugizibwe, Donozio Bagonza, Robinah Atuhairwe, Florence Tukahirwa and one only identified as Tusiime, all residents of Kisura and Nyankubebe villages in Bwikara sub-county in Kagadi district.
They were arrested on Tuesday after being found cultivating in Hemu and Wabituju Wetlands in Nyankubebe and Kisura villages respectively. They had cleared wetlands and planted crops like Yams, maize, tomatoes, Onions, cabbages, beans, and rice which were also destroyed during the operation.
Lilian Ruteraho, the Resident District Commissioner-RDC Kagadi says that the arrests follow repeated warnings to residents to desist from destroying wetlands in the district in vain.
Ruteraho emphasized that the operation aims to conserve the natural environment and mitigate climate change-related problems.
Ruteraho says that they are implementing a Presidential Directive to ensure that they get rid of encroachers from Wetlands.
Section 36 of the National Environment Act, which provides for the protection of wetlands and prohibits reclamation, and erection of illegal structures empowers authorities to demolish any structure that is fixed in, on, under, or above any wetland.
The Act also empowers districts to manage wetlands within their jurisdictions and ensure that their boundaries are demarcated so that even as water levels and wetland vegetation recede, the communities are clear on where the boundaries lie.
She tasked leaders in the district to collaborate with security to fight the vice.
In June 2024, seven people were arrested during an operation to crack down on wetland encroachers in Masindi district. They were arrested at Kirasa washing bay in Kirasa 1 Cell, Central Division.
