By Mugabe Robert
RUKUNGIRI
The Rukungiri Deputy Resident district commissioner Ahimbisiibwe Wilberforce Ongom has rallied People living around wetlands to embrace the ongoing wetland preservation strategy to avoid breaching the law.
This was part of his remarks while officiating at the ground opening for the demarcation of wetlands and installation of perimeter stones marking a 30 meters distance between the wetland and functional land for the Eihimbo, Mashaku and Kakindo wetlands in Bugangari Sub County, Rukungiri district.
Ongom rallied residents who had encroached on the wetlands to vacate before the law catches up with them
He cautioned the implementers to be transparent while demarcating the wetlands
In 2021, the government embarked on wetland restoration under the Building Resilient communities wetland Eco systems and Associated catchment in Uganda financed by Green Climate Fund, UNDP under Ministry of Water and Environment, MAAIF( Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and UNMA ( Uganda National Metrological Authority).
The Rukungiri district Secretary for Production, Marketing, and Natural Resources Byarugaba Micheal who represented the chairperson LC5 revealed that there is no bargaining on the issue of wetlands and encroachers must vacate immediately.
The Rukungiri Chief Administrative Officer Hajj Masokoyi Wasswa noted that the destruction of wetlands results in disasters like floods and appealed to locals to welcome wetland preservation.
The Ministry of Water and Environment officer Willy Kakuru warned that the destruction of wetlands is the reason for the prevalent drought and failure to preserve the wetlands will result in permanent drought in the near future
Residents who voluntarily vacate wetlands will benefit from the Building resilient communities project.
They will be given goats, Bee hives and will be allowed to gather Herbs, carry out Fishing and gather materials for handcrafts from the wetlands.