NEMA Defends Selective Demolitions Wetlands, Cities Legal Liabilities

Kampala, Uganda – The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has justified its selective demolition of structures in wetlands, citing potential legal liabilities against the government. Appearing before Parliament’s COSASE committee, NEMA Executive Director Barirega Akwankasah explained that some developers had obtained lawful permits from various government agencies, making demolition a complex issue.

Akwankasah specifically mentioned Stabex Fuel Station, which was spared from demolition despite being located in the Lubigi wetland. He revealed that NEMA had issued restoration orders, but the company produced approval documents from other government agencies, including NEMA itself. Demolishing such properties would attract legal liability to the government, he argued.The officials maintained their stance against compensating evicted residents who legally occupied the Lubigi wetland, instead emphasizing the need for encroachers to pay a Shs600 million fine for restoration or face a 12-year jail sentence.

The ongoing probe by COSASE has raised questions about the eviction exercise, which has seen over 200 houses demolished, with NEMA targeting over 300 more marked as encroaching on the wetland.This development highlights the complexities in balancing environmental conservation with property rights and government accountability. Stay tuned for further updates as the story unfolds.