By Abaho Micheal
Bushenyi Resident District Commissioner, Ms Jane Asiimwe Muhindo, has decried harassment from “ connected individuals” especially government officials who threaten her efforts towards implementing the presidential directive on wetlands.
While speaking to Journalists, Ms Asiimwe, without mentioning names, said she had received ‘warnings’ from some individuals accusing her of sabotaging their business interests.
President Museveni has on different occasions directed wetland encroachers to vacate wetlands, but the implementation of his directives has met hindrances.
The Minister of Presidency, Ms Milly Babalanda Babirye, on August 14, 2022, issued a circular reminding RDCs and RCCs of the presidential directive asking them to rid wetlands of all encroachers.
Now Asiimwe says there are some individuals who are supposed to lead by example in vacating these wetlands voluntarily, but they don’t
According to the Bushenyi senior environment officer, Vincent Kataate, 25% of the wetlands in the district have been degraded and they are employing a number of interventions with partners to restore them.
Kataate also said that wetland restoration and protection has been derailed by the “loose law, which allows some people to encroach on wetlands, and at the same time pushes others out.”