RUBANDA – Kyomugisha Joan (38), a beneficiary of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Rubanda District, is grappling with the aftermath destruction of her 3-acre Irish Potato farm that was razed by authorities during an eviction enforcement operation.
A resident of Kyenyi parish in Muko Sub-County, Rubanda District, Kyomugisha is one of many individuals whose crops and trees were demolished on the 28th of last month. The operation, led by Rubanda’s Acting Resident District Commissioner, Eric Ssewandigi, aimed to restore the Karukara-Kanyambugo Wetland in Kabere Parish.
Kyomugisha had obtained 980,000 Shillings from the Parish Development Model funds, and her Irish potato garden was part of her strategy to repay the loan. Unfortunately, the authorities destroyed her garden amid tight security, leaving her in a precarious situation.
Kyomugisha explained, “They had started bearing Irish potatoes, and I had planned that in case they yield, I would harvest, pay back the money, save some for my family. But now I am stuck, and I don’t know what to do next.”
She emphasized the labor she invested during the planting period and revealed her anticipation of harvesting 40 sacks from the garden. With her plans disrupted, she now faces the challenge of securing new seedlings and finding the means to repay the loan.
In her appeal for support, Kyomugisha is seeking assistance from the government to navigate this difficult situation and provide survival options for her and her family.
CUE IN KYOMUGISHA….ON THE MATTER….RR//
However, Jane Amumpeire, the Rubanda District Nature Resources Officer, disclosed that 95 percent of wetlands in the district have been encroached upon. She highlighted visible consequences such as floods leading to fatalities, destruction of crop gardens, and damage to other properties. Amumpeire stressed that the public had been sensitized about permissible activities in wetlands without compromising the ecosystem.
