The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) says all people claiming to have possessed land titles in Lubigi wetland after 1998, are having irregular titles.
“Despite reminders and written notices, people did not leave peacefully, so we had no choice but to inconvenience them to have them leave. Different categories of infrastructure are not yet down. This doesn’t mean they may not come down; the operations are ongoing,” said NEMA Executive Director, Dr Akanwasah Barirega, during a televised interview.
Lubigi Wetland restoration which started in May 2024, has continued amidst mixed reactions on the wetland occupancy and the manner of eviction.
The restoration now at 20% intends to have at least 1,526 acres of the degraded wetland restored in the areas of Nansana, Nabweru, Bwaise, Busega and Kyengera, among others.
Over 1,000 illegal occupants of the wetland mainly homestead have so far been evicted since the beginning of the exercise.
According to Dr Barirega, the eviction exercise of occupants in Lubigi wetland is guided by all laws and all those being evicted are illegal occupants although some claim to be bona fide occupants with land titles.
He said since 1995 when the constitution first protected or mainstreamed the protection of wetlands, people have had titles even before 1995 and have not lost ownership of their titles.
Dr Barirega clarified that the titles that they are referring to ceased to be with the 1998 Land Act and wetland laws.
“It is sad to see people inconvenienced; it is not nice displacing people who have already settled, but as you know, we are required by law to enforce the law,” he noted, adding, “So, while it is sad to inconvenience and remove people from their shelters, it could have been worse if we experienced flooding that could claim their lives.”
He noted that even with bona fide occupancy, the usage of the land in question remains subject to regulation in accordance with the law.
He reminded all those seeking litigation that the eviction is in conformity and is highly supported by the Land Acts and environmental laws and policies.
“The city has industries, and in a capital city like Kampala and Wakiso, you have more emissions than in the villages, so you need more wetlands to absorb these emissions for the good of the people,” said Dr Barirega.
Dr Barirega called on all those still invading wetlands to harmoniously vacate and cautioned those sharing malicious videos and pictures.
“As long as there is a wetland on your land, the law protects the wetland, and you are stopped from using it the way you want, whether you have a land title or private Milo. I can enforce no commission of offence; I can only persuade them to leave or for the government to relocate them for environmental reasons.”
Last week, President Museveni asked all those occupying wetlands to appreciate the magnitude of the problem caused by the destruction of wetlands rather than blaming NEMA for a noble cause.
He tasked everyone in the wetland to positively and voluntarily leave without being pushed away.