The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has ordered Robert Kiwanuka to immediately stop his ongoing constructions and restore the Kimbejja wetland in Wakiso.
This followed an environmental inspection to ascertain the status of wetlands in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, NEMA in a press statement said it has issued a restoration order to Kiwanuka, who had illegally reclaimed part of the wetland along the Naalya-Kimbejja road in Kira Municipality, Wakiso district.
“Kiwanuka had commenced construction of storied structures in part of Nsooba wetland system that drains the suburbs of Naalya, Najeera, Kira, Namugongo, and Kyaliwajjala,” reads part of the statement.
A restoration order is a curative tool of environment management that instructs a person who has caused environmental damage to restore the damaged area to the position it was before the damage occurred.
In this case, NEMA said Kiwanuka had fenced off the area without approval from them and drainage channels had been dug to divert water. Unencumbered dumping of stones, gravel, murram, and soil was taking place at the site. These actions are detrimental to wetland systems and the environment.
“Kiwanuka has been directed to immediately vacate the wetland and stop any further dumping of foreign material in the wetland. He has also been instructed to demolish all illegal structures that had been erected and dispose of any resulting debris in a manner that will not threaten the environment. Further, Mr. Kiwanuka has also been tasked to restore the degraded part of the wetland to its original state,” the statement adds.
NEMA says wetlands are an important part of our ecosystem because they are a habitat for some species, perform hydrological functions such as regulation of water quality, reduce downstream soil erosion, and aid in flood control by storing excess water during heavy rains.
Despite these important ecological functions, wetlands it says have been targeted for settlement, agriculture, and other developments.
“In order to reduce pressure on them and to enable Government build capacity to regulate developments in wetlands; NEMA has indefinitely suspended the receipt, issuance, and consideration for all projects within wetlands. The public is further urged to report any activity taking place in wetlands to NEMA or the nearest police station,”
NEMA is a semi-autonomous institution of the Government that coordinates, monitors, regulates, and supervises environmental management in the country. NEMA spearheads the development of environmental policies, laws, regulations, and standards, and guides Government to make sound environmental management decisions.
