MPs quiz NEMA officials over soil dumping in River Katonga

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | Officials from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) found difficulty convincing Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee about the safety of River Katonga amid reports of soil deposition.

A Chinese Company Zhong Bang Industries Limited that reportedly acquired 40 acres of land to construct warehousing units was accused of dumping soil in River Katonga near a bridge in Kayabwe, Mpigi District.

Led by the Authority Executive Director Dr Tom Okurut, the officials on Wednesday appeared before the committee chaired by Kiboga East MP Dr Keefa Kiwanuka to give a brief concerning River Katonga degradation.

Dr Okurut told the Committee that on July 4, 2019, NEMA approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Zhong Bang Industries Company Limited to establish warehousing units in Jandira Villae, Nkozi Sub-county in Mpigi District within the catchment of River Katonga.

He said that soil was not being dumped in the River as reported since the land procured by the Chinese Company was 1.6 Kilometers from the River.

He, however, acknowledged that following their inspection, they established violations to the EIA conditions of approval citing no visible measures to maintain stormwater, no visible firefighting equipment and exposure of electricity cables, no soil erosion control measures and others.

Okurut also reported that there is dumping of murrum in the nearby wetland beyond the area permitted for development.

“The total area where murrum is deposited is about 1.8 acres. This is an illegal activity,” said Okurut.

He further noted that the warehouse structures were also observed to be constructed beyond the permitted area by about 25m along the Kampala-Masaka highway and 16m behind the warehouses making a total of about 0.5 acres.

Documents presented before the committee, indicate a formal complaint was made to Police on degradation of Katonga wetland and that the Police issued an arrest warrant for the Company manager. Nema has also suspended construction work until the wetland is restored and the provisions of the EIA complied with.

NEMA also revealed plans to take steps to restore the degraded wetland and claim the cost incurred in the restoration.

However, Bufumbira East MP James Nsaba Buturo said the NEMA needed to take charge and acquire a robust approach to its work.

“What is known to the country is that soil was dumped in River Katonga was dumped, you need to return the confidence of the country,” said Buturo.

Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi wondered why NEMA has not come out strongly on the matter that was widely publicized. He questioned NEMA’s failure to issue a press statement clarifying on reports by an investor dumping soil in the River.

Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa also faulted NEMA of taking the matter lightly yet it acknowledges depositing of murrum in the catchment area by the Chinese Company.

But Dr Okurut said that NEMA had prepared a cabinet information paper about the matter and that after the discussion by parliament, they were to issue a detailed public statement. He also said that the dumped soil is currently being removed.

However, Tororo South MP Fredrick Angura insisted on NEMA reprimanding the management of Zhong Bang Industries Company Limited for violating a certificate issued by NEMA.

The River in question is one of the major rivers in Uganda. It once flowed away from Lake Victoria into Lake George but uplifting events between the two lakes associated with the formation of the rift valley according to NEMA caused the inundated region to the Southwest of Lake Wamala to become the new divide for the Katonga River.

The 220-kilometre long Katonga River currently flows mainly eastwards into Lake Victoria at Kayabwe in Mpigi District and is fed by tributaries along the way. The River flows through 11 districts including Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Mpigi, Butambala, Gomba, Mityana, Mubende, Sembabule, Kiruhura, Ibanda and Kamwenge.

******

URN