The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has intensified its enforcement campaign against illegal developments in environmentally sensitive areas after demolishing a perimeter wall constructed inside Lake Victoria at Ddungu Resort Beach in Mulungu, Makindye Division.
The demolition, backed by security agencies, targeted a permanent wall that NEMA said had been built within the lake basin, interfering with the natural lake buffer and ecosystem.
According to NEMA, construction of the structure began in 2019 despite repeated directives ordering the developers to halt the works.
The authority said several stop orders were issued to the management of Ddungu Resort, but the directives were ignored, prompting enforcement action.
NEMA spokesperson William Lubuulwa said the operation demonstrates that environmental laws apply equally to all developers regardless of their status or influence.
“Our actions are guided by the law, not the status of the individuals involved,” Lubuulwa said.
He added that the authority would continue removing illegal structures that threaten wetlands, lake shores and other protected ecosystems.
“The environment does not distinguish between a small residential gate and a luxury resort fence. The law is equal for all, and our resolve to remove illegal structures that choke our natural resources remains absolute,” he said.
The demolition is part of what NEMA has described as a broader enforcement campaign targeting illegal activities in wetlands and lake buffers across the country.
The authority said it is also preparing a case file against the developers for possible prosecution over alleged environmental violations and failure to comply with statutory directives.
Environmental experts have long warned that encroachment on wetlands and lake shores threatens natural ecosystems, including areas that help filter pollutants, regulate flooding and support aquatic life.
They argue that sustained enforcement, backed by legal action against offenders, will be critical in protecting Uganda’s natural resources.
The demolition at Mulungu comes amid growing public debate over the enforcement of environmental laws, with critics previously accusing authorities of being tougher on small-scale encroachers while sparing influential developers.
NEMA says the latest action demonstrates that it is committed to enforcing environmental regulations without discrimination.
The authority has warned property owners and developers operating in wetlands and lake buffer zones that illegal structures will continue to face removal.
