Archive

Resty Namaganda, a health worker at the landing site attributes it to a lack of clean and safe water sources and the absence of pit latrines in most homes.

According to the affected residents and local leaders, their hope for the lake to return has reduced since the water has kept on diminishing. They say that more than 50 cows and 40 pigs have died due to lack of water.

Mugumya further explains that MAAIF engaged a consultant three years ago to conduct a feasibility study on the lake. Mugumya says that the consultant visited the district and conducted the study but he has never returned since and the ministry of agriculture has never given them feedback about the proposed restocking of the lake.

Esther Nakaweesa, a single mother lost a house and a banana plantation. She says that she doesn’t have anywhere to go or feed her children.

Mulumba says that rescuers managed to pull out three children but could not save Lugaaju who had already died and his body charred in the inferno.

Charles Ahiirwe Ndiire, an elder in Nkundi village, says that the delegation first visited his village in the morning before proceeding to other communities to gather information from the residents.

Patrick Mande, another affected resident, says he plans to relocate to another village to access clean and safe water. He appealed to the government to intervene by setting up boreholes or taps in the affected communities to help the residents.

Charles Rwendiire, one of the elders in the affected village says that the lake first drained in a space measuring about two football fields before it dried up, and as a result, the fish remained on the muddy surface, from where the fishermen and residents have been picking it since Sunday.

Ddwaniro residents say their lives and property are in danger due to UMEM’s failure to inspect and monitor the poles and poor connection in the current rainy season.

Yorokamu Gakyalo, the chairperson of the area Project Management Committee, says the open dam makes communities around it susceptible to drowning.

Officials of the National Forestry Authority in Rakai have been summoned to answer to charges of forest destruction.

Kooki Environment Minister Dickson Ssebyala says that at least 80 out of the 100 hills in Kooki have been destroyed by human activity which involved cutting of tress and charcoal burning among others. He adds that the situation has exposed the chiefdom to severe drought conditions.

Jamil Kiyingi, the Rakai district environment officer told Uganda Radio network that they have done their best but people keep returning to where they have been evicted.

Last week, Kamuswaga hired loggers to harvest pine trees from Rakai Forest Reserve for the construction of his leisure center and hotel at Rakai district headquarters.

Augustine Ssegawa and John Kalyango were picked up on Monday evening, a day after police clashed with UPDF officers over the destruction of the forest reserve.

The torrential rains increased the water volume in River Bukolo cutting off Kyappa-Kasensero road in Rakai district.

Jamil Kiyingi, Rakai district Environment officer says the evicted families will not be compensated because they were warned against encroaching on the wetland in vain

Environmentalists are accusing Rakai district leaders and Water Minister, Maria Mutagamba, of sabotaging and frustrating their campaign to restore and reclaim destroyed wetlands in the district.

Wetland encroachers in Rakai district have up to end of day on Wednesday to vacate or be forcefully evicted. Last year, Rakai district environment authorities gave the encroachers, numbering over 15,000, up to end of January to leave the wetlands to give way for wetland reclamation campaign.

Encroachers have cultivated a huge chunk of land in swamps around Lake Kijanebarora in Rakai district, two years after they were evicted.