Kitagwenda Residents Warned Against Encroachment on Wetlands, Lakeshores

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Kitagwenda Residents Warned Against Encroachment on Wetlands, Lakeshores
Encroachment on shores of Lake George | Ivan Mugisha

The district's Natural Resources Officer (DNRO), Moses Byaruhanga Bujara, issued the warning following increased human activities near River Buhindagi, Lake George, and wetlands buffer zones.

By Ivan Mugisha

Residents living near wetlands and lakeshores in Kitagwenda District have been cautioned against encroaching on protected areas, as this amounts to environmental degradation.

The District Natural Resources Officer (DNRO), Moses Byaruhanga Bujara, issued the warning following increased human activities near River Buhindagi, Lake George, and wetlands buffer zones.

During a monitoring exercise in Mahyoro sub-county, where encroachment is on the rise, Byaruhanga expressed frustration over ongoing illegal activities such as brick laying and cultivation within the buffer zones, despite numerous warnings from the district's natural resources department.

"We have been appealing through radio messages, asking people to leave the wetlands, lakeshores, and riverbanks," Byaruhanga stated.

He said the department is now enforcing existing environmental laws and policies, alongside a presidential directive aimed at protecting wetlands and lakeshores.

He noted President Museveni has repeatedly urged the public to vacate these protected areas and has issued an ultimatum to those still occupying them.

"The President has reiterated this several times and given an ultimatum. We are enforcing the existing policies and laws, as well as the presidential directive regarding lakeshores and wetlands management," Byaruhanga added.

According to Section 36 of the National Environment Act, the reclamation of wetlands and the construction of illegal structures in protected areas are prohibited.

The act empowers authorities to demolish any structures placed within wetlands.

Additionally, district authorities are responsible for managing wetlands within their jurisdictions and ensuring that boundaries are clearly demarcated, even as water levels and wetland vegetation recede.

This enforcement is part of ongoing efforts to protect the environment from further degradation and ensure the long-term sustainability of wetlands and lakeshores in the region.

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