Ntungamo Moves to Enforce Wetland Restoration

What the report says

Ntungamo district authorities in western Uganda have moved from public sensitisation to stronger enforcement in a campaign to restore wetlands that officials say have been steadily degraded by farming, eucalyptus planting and drainage works. According to Nile Post, the district says encroachment has affected a significant share of its wetland systems, including areas linked to the Rwizi, Kagera, Kahengye and Nyabihoko basins, and is worsening water insecurity during a prolonged dry spell.

The report says officials are particularly concerned about wetland loss in Itojo Sub-county and Kikunyu Cell, where human activity has altered water flow and reduced the natural storage function of the marshes. Local environment officers said restoration work has included removing trees planted in wetlands, blocking drainage channels and filling trenches to help recover the land’s original water-retention role. The district also says several areas have already been restored, including parts of Rufuha, Kyabajwa, Kikunyu and Mugono, though efforts are still ongoing.

Authorities say repeated re-encroachment has been a major obstacle, with some residents returning to use restored areas for cultivation and other activities. They also say the issue matters beyond conservation because wetlands support irrigation, livestock and other livelihoods in a district facing limited water sources. The enforcement phase follows notices giving residents time to leave protected areas voluntarily, and officials warned of prison terms and heavy fines for continued violations. The report also notes that district leaders plan to treat further wetland encroachment as a law-enforcement matter.