Authorities in Kabale District have destroyed a banana plantation belonging to St. Peter Kabasigaba Catholic Church in Kagarama Parish, Buhara Sub-county after it was found to have encroached on the protected Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland.
The operation, conducted on Friday, was led by the Kabale District Natural Resources Officer, Henry Tumwesigye Kamutoro, in coordination with police as part of ongoing efforts to restore degraded wetlands in the district.
Tumwesigye said the district is currently restoring 19 degraded wetlands with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help mitigate climate-related threats such as flooding, soil erosion, and environmental degradation.
He noted that the 24-hectare Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland is the largest restoration project among the affected sites and warned that authorities would not tolerate continued encroachment.
According to Tumwesigye, investigations have also revealed that several individuals have constructed houses and erected perimeter fences along the banks of River Kirururuma, which flows through the wetland.
He said the encroachers have been issued a 21-day ultimatum to voluntarily remove the structures or face legal action.
He, however, clarified that the government is not entirely restricting public use of wetlands, explaining that activities such as beekeeping, fish farming, and bamboo planting may be permitted upon approval by relevant authorities to ensure environmental conservation.
CUE IN TUMWESIGYE….ON ENCROACHERS….RR/ENG//
When contacted for a comment, the Parish Priest of Maziba Catholic Parish, Father Ignatius Leoson Mbabazi, said he was still awaiting a formal report from the catechist at St. Peter Kabasigaba Catholic Church regarding the destruction of the plantation.
Father Mbabazi noted that he would be in a better position to comment after receiving full details surrounding the incident.
CUE IN FR MBABAZI…..ON RESPONSE…..RR//
