The Masaka Resident City Commissioner, Hudu Hussein has said he is soon launching a crackdown on what he termed as powerful and wealth encroachers on Masaka City wetlands.
Hudu who has been the Masaka RCC for only five months said whereas in the past he was still trying to learn how the city is run, he is now ready to hit the ground running against the “untouchables.”
“They encroach on wetlands thinking they are powerful but they are wrong. I have been preparing myself since I came to Masaka. However, I have now got a list of these powerful encroachers. Whereas they think they are powerful, I don’t think their power is more than that of President Museveni,” Hudu said on Wednesday during the launch of the ‘Yoja Uganda’ campaign by NEMA in Masaka City.
The campaign seeks to sensitize and engage members of the public against littering and embracing sustainable waste management practices.
The Masaka City RCC said on Wednesday that the crackdown supported by NEMA will see the untouchables who encroached on wetlands face the wrath of the law.
“I want to tell you that we are chanced to have NEMA join us in correcting the mistakes made in the past. We are going to draw a program to enforce the presidential directives on evicting encroachers in wetlands. We have given them ample time to vacate the wetlands and put things right. That time has elapsed and now is time to act together with the city clerk and environment officers,” Hudu said.
“My honeymoon as the RCC is over and now it is time to act. We are now ready to start work. I won’t allow anyone those so-called powerful degraders of our environment. It will only happen when I leave Masaka City.”
The NEMA Executive Director, Dr. Akankwasa Barirega said he is willing to give all the support required by Masaka City authorities to evict encroachers in wetlands.
“The issue of environment is not something to play around with. You all saw what happened in Libya where floods killed people and we don’t what the same to happen here. We must work hand in hand with the local population to ensure we correct the mistakes,” Dr.Barirega said.
“All those who encroached on wetlands are warned to leave with immediate effect or else we will use force to get them out. NEMA is ready to support the RCC and all authorities here.”