Bob Rumanzi
The conflict between Ruhinda subcounty residents and Rukungiri district water and environment authorities regarding wetland restoration has taken a new turn, as locals refuse to vacate the wetlands, citing them as their only alternative for cultivation.
On Tuesday, the Rukungiri district Resident District Commissioner, accompanied by the DISO and the district chairperson LC5, visited the affected areas to investigate claims circulating that the district environmental office had destroyed crops and properties during the wetland restoration exercise.
RDC Mr. Steven Nsubuga Bewayo stated that the situation on the ground is not as severe as portrayed in the media. He countered allegations that district authorities, along with law enforcement officers, forcibly entered the area during the wetland restoration but admitted that damages were less than the public outcry suggested.
Despite this, upset locals expressed their frustration, spitting dust and condemning the government for promoting wetland restoration without compensating those whose homes were marked as part of the wetlands.
Kemigisha Jacenta, a resident whose banana plantations were cleared, shared her concern for her six children, fearing for their survival as her only piece of land was in the small wetland near her home.
Rukungiri district Administrative Officer Hajji Masokoi Waswa revealed that the government is in the process of providing compensation to those leaving the wetlands, offering goats and cows. However, locals insisted they want their land back, not just government assistance.
They argued that the demarcation by authorities did not accurately define wetlands, as the swampy nature appears only during the rainy season. Locals urged district authorities to focus on larger wetlands instead of these small areas where they have been surviving.
Chairperson LC5 Geofrey Kyomukama assured residents that the situation on the ground would be presented to relevant offices for consideration. However, locals declared their intention to mobilize the community and remove the stones placed in their gardens as demarcation.
While the government has initiated the restoration of wetlands in the Kigezi region, it has faced criticism for not taking action against investors who are cultivating rice in the Lwera wetlands along the Kampala-Masaka highway.
