The major wetlands that have been degraded are Mabengere that is found in Kisiita and Mpasana sub-counties, Mpongo also in Mpasana Sub County and Kabale in Katikara Sub County.
Yudaya Nakinga, the Kakumiro District Natural Resources Officer who led the operation, says that they received intelligence information indicating that several hectares of the wetlands had been encroached on for different activities.
The plots were discovered during the field verification of the school land by the Office of the Auditor General. In his 2018/19 financial year audit report, the Auditor General, John FS Muwanga explains that further subdivision of Bukalasa Agricultural College land without its knowledge may hamper the college administration when it comes to practical lessons and demonstrations that require adequate land.
Alex Tabu and Charles Dama all residents of Kirasa cell in Masindi central division were on Monday arrested together with John Kiiza who had hired them to cultivate the wetland located along Masindi-Kafo road.
Godfrey Azoora, a councillor representing Bujura ward in Bujumbura division faults the Hoima Municipal Environment Officer Ronald Kyamanywa for not doing enough to evict the encroachers.
Although the land was free of encumbrances, it started attracting encroachers due to its strategic location. The stadiums Managing Director Jamil Ssewanyana says that more than 200 people have encroached on the stadium land over the years.
Residents have admitted being the root cause of the problem. Alex Mulindwa, a resident of Matuga, says the damage would have been minimal if residents hadnt reclaimed wetlands.
John Bosco Muruli, the Supervisor Wambabya Central Forest Reserve, says the suspects were found carrying out illegal activities including bush clearing, charcoal burning, lumbering and cultivation among others.
Records indicate that only 40 percent of the 91 public schools in Gomba have land titles while all the 19 Health Centres dont have any documentation of ownership of the land they occupy. The schools with titles are owned and managed by religious institutions.
On Monday, scores of Anti-Riot Policemen, led by Jimmy Owona, an officer in charge of the eviction of encroachers at National Forest Authority went to the village in Butuntumula Sub County and ordered all people occupying the forest reserve to vacate the land with immediate effect. The affected residents occupy part of 1,208 hectares that form the reserve.
Olivia Nabukenya, the Masindi district Environment officer says that more than Eight thousand trees have been planted along riverbanks in the district as part of the restoration drive.
It is here that the Zika virus was first identified in 1947, by virologists Alexander Haddow and George Dick. It recently became a global centre of attraction when the virus that causes microcephaly, a congenital malformation in infants hit parts of Brazil.
The National Forestry Authority ordered 216 people to vacate Mbaale Forest Reserve, to pave way for tree planting. The residents were given only two months to vacate the 1208 hectares forest reserve located in Butuntumula Sub County, Luweero district.
The wetland, which borders the districts of Mbarara and Sheema, feeds into Kooga, another wetland and Rwizi River, the main source of water for thousands of people in Mbarara, Sheema and Isingiro districts.
The affected people were accused of encroaching on Bukaleeba forest reserve and cutting down trees. Teddy Nsamba, the manager Busoga Forest Company says several notices were issued to the encroachers to vacate the forest in vain.
Masaka Municipality councillors are concerned about the increasing number of non-staff members including Masaka businessmen encroaching on council staff houses.
Ten suspected Rwanda nationals in Kibaale district have been charged and remanded over illegal settlement in a national forest reserve and encroachment on the forest reserve.
More than 1000 people who have been cultivating in Omier central forest reserve in Nebbi district have been given four months ultimatum to vacate the forest land before they are forcefully evicted.
