Politicians Back Encroachers as Wetlands Continue to Disappear

Available statistics show that wetland coverage in Uganda has dropped from 37,346.3 Sq. Km in 1994 (15.5 percent) to 21,526.3 Sq.Km which is an 8.9 percent decrease. There is also a projection indicating that if the destruction trends are not checked, Uganda will be left with only 1.6 percent of wetlands cover by 2040.

"AFIEGO is not an NGO. It is a company. But AFIEGO staff do not constitute the non-profit company, a legal entity of its own that can sue and be sued. To be arrested for operating without a permit was therefore irregular," Bariyo says. "So police is hiding these people from court because the charge against them cannot stand in court," he adds, "But if police thinks it has a good case, it should produce them in court and we defend them."

The landing site, which is located in Lukaya Town Council in Lwera wetland is the main fishing ground for Tilapia and catfish in the Kalungu district. But, it is currently clogged with heavy aquatic weeds, spreading over 200 meters into the lake.

The most affected roads are located in low lying areas near the shores of Lake Kyoga. They have been submerged with water for close to two years now. In the Serere district, more than ten roads have completely been cut off, making transport to areas like Atiira, Kagwara, Odapakol, Kateta and others very difficult.

Godfrey Ssemanda, a resident of Lambu landing site in Bukakata Sub County, indicates that dumping of the foreign plastic materials is frustrating their local efforts of collecting the waste materials for recycling because part of it remains stuck in the floating vegetation cover on the lake.

The rains have submerged feeder roads and major bridges in the area leaving residents struggling to access social services.