The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has condemned the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) over what it calls discriminatory evictions from wetlands across Uganda.
Last week, NEMA resumed its efforts to restore and protect wetlands, starting with Lubigi. In Kasubi and Kawaala, several homes were demolished, leaving families without shelter.
The demolitions in Kawaala sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Ugandans questioning the criteria used. Many asked why only poor families are being affected, while large mansions continue to be built in wetlands without being stopped.
Addressing journalists at party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on Monday, Robert Centenary, FDC Deputy President for Western Region, said the evictions unfairly target poor citizens while wealthy individuals and commercial operators continue to occupy the same wetlands.
“We accept that wetlands must be protected, but it is wrong that factories and rice farms belonging to the rich sit undisturbed while ordinary citizens are chased away,” Centenary said.
“Even NEMA’s Executive Director has admitted that some commercial structures were exempted from demolition because they received government approvals. So who issues these approvals?” he added.
The FDC demands that government immediately suspend all ongoing evictions until wetland boundaries are fully demarcated, publicly gazetted, and accessible at local government level, so anyone seeking a building permit, land, or business license can verify land status in advance.
The party also called for compensation for all displaced persons, especially those who settled or built in wetlands under government approvals, pointing out that both the Limitation Act (Cap 80) and the Land Act (Cap 227, Sections 29 and 30) grant bona fide occupants security after 12 years of occupation.
Centenary emphasized that the Land Fund should be deployed to support vulnerable families being displaced.
FDC further demanded that NEMA enforce wetland protection fairly against all encroachers commercial, industrial, or residential regardless of wealth or political connections, and respect court orders and due process in all operations.
“We are calling for fairness, transparency, and justice for the poor and vulnerable,” Centenary said.
The Executive Director of NEMA, Barirega Akankwasah said the operation doesn’t discriminate calling upon people in wetlands to heed their call.
“We do not love to see people’s livelihood disrupted. We sympathise with the plight of the people who are removed by enforcement,” Barirega said while inspecting Kajjansi wetland where he gave people restoration orders.
Barirega also clarified that the authority gave these people time to vacate they refused.
“The restoration exercise has been paused since last year to give people time to relocate but some people started returning in the restored areas,” he said.
He added that the law requires authorities to issue a restoration order, which obliges the recipients to take action within 21 days either by filing an appeal or vacating the wetland. Failure to comply with the restoration order is considered an offense.
