Masindi authorities tighten on wetland encroachers 

Masindi: The crackdown on wetland encroachers in Masindi district is intensifying. Over five people have been arrested during the operation to crackdown on the wetland encroachers in Masindi district.

The individuals whose details have been concealed so as not to jeopardize investigations are currently detained at Masindi Central Police Station.

They were arrested on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Kirasa washing bay in Kirasa 1 Cell, Central Division, during an operation to crack down on wetland encroachers.

Sanon Dhaala, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Masindi, emphasized that wetlands should not be turned into washing bays or used for cultivation.

‘’Washing bays are degrading the wetland, and you are supposed to operate in the areas gazetted by the municipal authorities.’’

While fish farming and animal rearing are allowed in wetlands, unauthorized activities like washing vehicles violate the law.

‘’Activities such as fish farming and animal rearing are allowed to operate in the wetlands, but not washing bays or cultivating.’’

He therefore advised the public to desist from turning wetlands into washing bays or cultivating in the wetlands. Dhaala said the operation would be carried out throughout the district and advised those operating in the wetlands to vacate before they face arrest.

Fred Kasigwa, the Masindi Municipal Senior Environment Officer, said that those washing vehicles in the wetland are doing it illegally, and it’s against the law.

He therefore advised them to operate at the designated washing bays in the municipality in order to protect the environment.

Though Kasigwa advised those operating at the wetland to shift to gazetted washing bays, Imam Fazil Jammad, the team leader at the washing bay, however, vowed that they would not vacate the wetland until the municipal authorities allocated them to the gazetted wetlands.

This prompted the deputy RDC, Sanon Dhaala, to order the arrest of the individuals who had refused to vacate the area, and seven of them were arrested.

Recently, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed individuals who stay and operate in wetlands to vacate them peacefully.

During the 3rd Annual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Conference, he emphasized that encroachment on wetlands poses significant environmental risks, including desertification.

The President also highlighted that Uganda’s ability to irrigate and stabilize agriculture depends on preserving wetlands, which contribute 40 percent of the country’s rainfall.

He urged those in wetlands to leave voluntarily, emphasizing that they don’t need the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to recognize the importance of wetlands.

In the past, President Museveni has consistently emphasized the need to evict encroachers from wetlands to prevent adverse effects on the environment

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