Lwengo Wetland Encroachers Given One Week to Vacate

What the report says

Lwengo district officials have given people occupying protected wetlands one week to leave, warning that those who stay could face arrest and other enforcement action. The directive was issued by District Environment Officer Godfrey Mutemba after inspections of several wetlands where authorities say they found increased cultivation and other activities inside protected areas, according to Nile Post.

Mutemba said the office identified crops such as coffee and bananas being grown in wetlands, including at Kyojja Wetland, where residents were told to uproot the plantations and vacate. He argued that wetland farming and settlement are illegal under environmental protection rules and said households bordering wetlands should maintain a 100-metre buffer zone. He also cautioned against spraying chemicals in wetland crops, saying this could affect water sources used by local communities.

The inspection was prompted by complaints from residents who alleged that some influential individuals were contributing to wetland destruction. Authorities also raised concern about sand extraction and cultivation in Kingo Sub-county, saying these activities have interfered with government water infrastructure by blocking pipes and disrupting water supply systems. Some residents reportedly said they had already stopped cultivating wetlands after earlier warnings.

Resident District Commissioner Emmy Kateera Tulyabagenyi backed the enforcement effort and warned that continued encroachment could lead to arrests. The wetlands in question, including areas around Kyazanga and Kyojja, are important for nearby communities in Lwengo and neighbouring districts, making the crackdown part of a wider effort to protect water resources and limit environmental degradation.