NEMA Moves Against UPDF Soldiers Encroaching on Nambigirwa Wetland
According to Wanyama Wilberforce, a senior official at the Ministry of Water and Environment, the soldiers occupied the wetland during the Covid-19 lockdown, taking advantage of the situation to establish settlements.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has launched an enforcement operation against Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers who encroached on the Nambigirwa wetland in Wakiso District, along the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.
According to Wanyama Wilberforce, a senior official at the Ministry of Water and Environment, the soldiers occupied the wetland during the Covid-19 lockdown, taking advantage of the situation to establish settlements.
Authorities estimate that nearly 40% of the swamp has been encroached upon.
The Nambigirwa wetland serves as a critical ecosystem, supporting flood control, water purification, and diverse wildlife.
The encroachment by UPDF personnel has heightened concerns over the long-term viability of the wetland, which plays a crucial role in sustaining the environment in the rapidly urbanising Wakiso area.
NEMA’s enforcement operation signals the government's renewed commitment to tackling environmental degradation.
The authority has previously taken action against individuals and businesses found to be encroaching on wetlands, including a private developer in 2022 who was stopped from clearing parts of the same wetland after residents complained of noise and dust pollution.
Uganda’s wetlands have faced increasing threats from human activities such as agriculture, urbanisation, and infrastructure expansion, despite existing legal protections.
While the government has enacted laws to safeguard these ecosystems, enforcement has remained a challenge.
NEMA has in recent years stepped up efforts to monitor and inspect wetlands and other protected areas, as well as engage local communities in conservation initiatives.
Environmentalists argue that without strict enforcement and sustained public awareness, Uganda risks losing crucial wetlands to unchecked encroachment.
The latest operation against the UPDF soldiers serves as a stern warning that even state actors will not be exempt from environmental laws.
Authorities have vowed to hold those responsible accountable as efforts to restore and protect Nambigirwa wetland continue.
