The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Water and Environment is investigating National Environment Management Authority-NEMA for issuing an operation license in Katonga wetland.
The ministry’s move follows uproar from environmentalists, leaders and residents in Mpigi District who accuse NEMA for allocating Katonga wetland near River Katonga along Kampala-Masaka highway to Zetong Bang Limited, a Chinese Company. The company intends to open up a plywood factory in the area.
Zetong Bang allegedly bought the piece of land measuring 40 acres from a one Mwebasa.
On Sunday, the Masaka LCV Chairperson Jude Mbabali made a stopover at the facility out of curiosity and exposed the activities of the Chinese company.
Peter Claver Mutuluza, the Mpigi LCV Chairperson, says that he was told that the company received an operating license from NEMA.
Mutuluza wonders why NEMA which is entrusted with protecting wetlands issued the permit without consulting local authorities.
In a press statement, NEMA defended its actions saying that it had authorized the Chinese company to use a portion of land which was approved by a team of inspectors.
“NEMA issued a user permit and approval to the company restricting activities to only six acres of dry land,” reads the statement in part adding that; “upon learning of the violation of the license terms we (NEMA) initiated a process to cause punitive actions against the company including cancellation of user permit, arrest of owners, prosecution in courts of law and restoration of the degraded area at their cost.”
George Wamunga, head of wetland ecology monitoring and enforcement team at the Ministry of Environment, says they visited the area and established that the six acres allocated to the company is a wetland.
“According to the ministry’s records, that specific area might be a wetland. If not, then it should be falling under the buffer zone and nobody can be allowed to carry out any activity in such an area. With all that in mind, the ministry is currently carrying out an analysis on the matter and we expect a report soon,” Wamunga said.
Yanun Li from Zetong Bang says they are currently handling the matter with NEMA and local authorities to address the matter. He, however, declined to give further information.
According to available records, Uganda’s wetland has been on a downward slide from 15.6% in 1994 to 10.3% in 2015 trends which indicate the country’s increased risk and vulnerability to natural disasters and other effects of Climate change evident from the prolonged drought.
Uganda loses about 2% of the wetlands annually, which is equivalent to 751.7 square kilometres countrywide. This affects the population as well as the animals that depend on these wetlands for food and sometimes shelter.
*****
URN
