- Summary:
- President Museveni has consistently emphasized the need for Ugandans to vacate wetland areas as part of environmental restoration efforts. In late 2023, he issued a directive for the forceful eviction of individuals still cultivating in wetlands.
KABALE: Farmers in the Kigezi sub-region through Muhangi and Partners Advocates have lodged a petition to Parliament protesting President Yoweri Museveni’s directive on wetland eviction.
President Museveni has consistently emphasized the need for Ugandans to vacate wetland areas as part of environmental restoration efforts. In late 2023, he issued a directive for the forceful eviction of individuals still cultivating in wetlands.
However, in their petition, farmers led by Nzeirwe Denis Ndyomugyenyi, Chairperson of the Kigezi Farmers’ Association, argue that local leaders are threatening eviction from reclaimed lands in Kigezi without studying the consequences on community livelihoods or developing mitigation measures agreed upon with the communities.
Ndyomugyenyi, the former Kyankwanzi RDC, voiced his opposition to President Museveni’s directive during a media address at the White Horse Inn in the Central Division of Kabale Municipality yesterday contending that the eviction of farmers from wetlands would impede economic development in Kigezi by disrupting the region’s primary agricultural activities, which are integral to its development plans.
CUE IN NDYOMUGYENYI…..ON PETITION……. RR/ENG//
Julius Arinaitwe, an environmentalist, farmer, and association member, echoed opposition to President Museveni’s directive, emphasizing the importance of compensating individuals before evicting them from wetlands. He highlighted the sustainable utilization of reclaimed lands by farmers to combat food insecurity in their communities.
On Legal part, Counsel Justus Muhangi of Muhangi and Partners Advocates stressed the necessity for the government to conduct a study before evicting people from wetlands.
CUE IN COUNSEL MUHANGI….ON PETITION……..ENG//.
Last month, political leaders such as Nelson Nshangabasheija, Kabale district LC5 Chairman, and Ronald Bagamuhunda, district youth councilor also opposed the President’s directive. They embarked on traversing Kabale district and hosting radio talk shows to denounce the implementation exercise.
Nshangabasheija and Bagamuhunda urged locals to resist the directives, citing potential economic and food security challenges, and demanded compensation of 200 million Shillings each from President Museveni for affected locals to relocate to unaffected areas.
