Those encroaching on wetlands are law breakers, we cant compensate them- Museveni

President Museveni has ruled out compensating people being evicted from wetlands by NEMA, saying them failed to use common sense.

“All the people in the wetlands, please leave peacefully. We cannot compensate you for breaking the law and not using common sense. We are not prosecuting you and we cannot compensate you for breaking the law,” Museveni said.

The president was on Saturday addressing the country on issues of national importance.

Last month, environment body, NEMA started countrywide evictions of encroachers on the country’s wetlands.

A number houses were razed down in the first phase of the eviction in Lubigi swamp in Kampala, affecting over 1000 households.

However, the evictees have since blamed government for evicting them from land where they have spent more than 10 years.

Kampala Lord Mayor who intervened asked NEMA to compensate those being evicted but NEMA has dragged feet on the same.

Speaking on Saturday, President Museveni said compensating these evictees would be encouraging others to do the same, insisting that they are law breakers.

The president also supported the ongoing evictions by NEMA, saying they are doing the right thing.

“Blaming NEMA on why it allowed people settle in the wetlands and later evicting them is fine but doesn’t exonerate the encroachers. Who doesn’t know what a wetland is? Are you a Ugandan or you are from Europe? It is the duty of everyone to protect the environment.”

The president insisted that wetlands are of immense benefit to the country in terms of providing water for irrigation and sieving water.