Re-encroachment threatens wetland restoration efforts in Eastern Uganda
Wetland restoration efforts in Eastern Uganda are facing significant setbacks as rice farmers re-encroach on vacated areas, undermining progress.
This issue was brought to light during a recent monitoring visit by UNDP Resident Representative for Uganda, Nwane Vwede-Obahor, who inspected key restoration sites in the districts of Palisa, Kibuku, and Kaliro.
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The visit, part of a review of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, revealed that despite notable advancements in wetland recovery, some areas have been re-occupied by farmers.
Accompanied by representatives from the ministries of finance, agriculture, water and environment, and local government, the UNDP official monitored Limoto and Papaya in Palisa, Natoto and Saala in Kibuku, and Nantamali and Ngova wetlands in Kaliro, where skirmishes of re-encroachment was evident with pre planted gardens, rice nurseries and gardens and recent rice straws littered the restored areas.
“All in all the project has performed well but with a few of the farmers getting back into the wetland” said David Okurut, Commissioner for Wetland Management.
“Like this one who put up a (rice)nursery for selling seedling to interested farmers but you wonder where they (farmers) are going to plant the seedlings” David Stephen Mugabi, the Director of Environmental Affairs added.
The issue has raised concerns about the sustainability of wetland recovery efforts, prompting calls for increased surveillance, better livelihood alternatives, and greater community engagement to prevent further encroachment.
“we have provided alternative livelihood including irrigation schemes, livestock and many others as demanded by the communities but still there is a problem of mindset change which I think was an oversight in the design of this project” Okurut lamented.
Nwane urged local authorities in the 24 focus districts to integrate wetland management into their development planning to sustain project’s gains.
In support of Nwane's call, Okurut stressed that the environment function is decetralized function of local government.
David Stephen Mugabi, Director of Environmental Affairs from the Ministry of Water and Environment, recommended "assisted restoration" to accelerate the recovery of degraded areas and reduce the temptation for farmers to re-enter the wetlands. “we need to hire people to do scattered planting of Papyrus” he said.
“system managers need to increase their presence here to monitor continuously this site where people were evicted from, two, no more farming activity should be allowed here” Mugabi added.
The GCF project, which spans 24 districts—12 in Eastern Uganda—focuses on wetland restoration, early warning systems, and the provision of alternative livelihoods.
However, delays in providing these alternative livelihoods to farmers who vacated wetlands have become a growing concern.
Many displaced farmers are still waiting for promised support, raising fears that without immediate intervention, re-encroachment will continue.
Kaliro District Chairperson Richard partly attributed the re-encroachment to political interference, accusing some area leaders of encouraging people to stay in wetlands for political capital.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the livelihood alternatives provided are effective and sustainable, as many farmers are hesitant to leave wetlands due to the inadequacy of current options.
Okurut highlighted restrictions associated with the use of wetlands following their recent gazatement adding particularly the primary category including Naigombwa runing through Kaliro to Lumbuye and Mpologoma that cust across Palisa and Kibuku dostricts. These categories are no go zones.
As restoration efforts move forward, authorities must act swiftly to protect reclaimed wetlands and prevent further setbacks.
