We are not remorseful on Lubigi evictions; more is coming, says  NEMA

Environment body, NEMA has said it is not remorseful about last week’s evictions that saw over 1000 encroachers forced out of Lubigi wetland.

The eviction which saw several homes and other developments in the wetland in Wakiso district razed down has attracted backlash from members of the public.

However, in a statement about the exercise, NEMA said their actions were within the law.

“Lubigi wetland is the largest system serving Kampala City and the neighboring districts to the North and Western Parts of the city. This wetland system serves as a critical water catchment area for the central region and is a major source of water for the water-stressed areas of the cattle corridor in Central Uganda. The wetland is critical for flood regulation and pollution control as well as habitat for critical biodiversity including the national bird, the Grey Crowned Crane,” NEMA said in the statement on Monday .

According to NEMA The Lubigi restoration exercise is being undertaken jointly BY KCCA, Police, UPDF, Wakiso district, UNRA, office of the president, Ministry of works and NEMA.

The environmental body explained that prior to the demolition exercise, they had issued restoration orders from as far as 2021 to all encroachers of the wetland, failure of which, NEMA would enforce the orders at the degraders’ cost and prosecution of the same where necessary.

They explained that during the ongoing exercise, the  law enforcement personnel allow safe evacuation of property and persons, and so far we have not had any injury or physical confrontation during the exercise.

NEMA also blasted opposition politicians led by the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi who on Monday tried to incite the public to return to the wetland.

“We have also notified the affected persons that the authority may recover as a civil debt in court the expenses incurred, in the exercise of the enforcement of the environment restoration order and restoring the wetland,” NEMA said.