Summary:
- The complaints center on actions taken by authorities following the June 2022 Presidential Directive that ordered all wetland encroachers to vacate and allow for restoration efforts. According to available statistics, over 32,000 people in Kigezi face eviction from wetlands.
KABALE: Farmers from the Kigezi Sub-region, under the umbrella of the Greater Kigezi Patriotic Farmers Association, have raised concerns about alleged fraud in the compensation process for landowners facing eviction from gazetted wetlands.
The grievances were made public during a press conference over the weekend, led by the Association’s Chairperson, Mbabazi Pierre Nyetegyereize, who also serves as the Rubanda District Deputy Speaker of Council. During the event, Mbabazi shared a four-page press release dated August 31, 2024, detailing the farmers’ concerns.
The complaints center on actions taken by authorities following the June 2022 Presidential Directive that ordered all wetland encroachers to vacate and allow for restoration efforts. According to available statistics, over 32,000 people in Kigezi face eviction from wetlands.
The farmers specifically criticized a high-level meeting organized in Kabale District by Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). The meeting aimed to discuss the implementation of the Presidential Directive.
The meeting, held on August 9, 2024, at Cephas Inn Hotel, was moderated by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi. Participants included MPs, LC5 Chairpersons, RDCs, CAOs, and other authorities from all six districts of the Kigezi Sub-region. However, according to the Greater Kigezi Patriotic Farmers Association, no specific resolutions were agreed upon.
The farmers argue that the meeting was poorly attended, with many key stakeholders not invited and inadequate time allocated for deliberations. They questioned why the planned two-day meeting was cut short to just one day, thereby canceling the session in which Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa was expected to deliver closing remarks.
“Out of the nine ministers expected to attend the meeting, only three were present: Hon. Henry Musasizi, Hon. Sarah Mateke, and Hon. Chris Baryomunsi. The Deputy Speaker was also excluded,” Mbabazi stated. He further noted that several stakeholders, such as religious leaders, parish chiefs, and local media, were not invited.
CUE IN PIERRE…….ON WETLANDS 1……ENG /RR//
According to Mbabazi, the Association discovered that the Ministry of Water and Environment had informed the State House that only 103 people with land titles from the Kigezi region and Ngora District were selected for compensation after agreeing to voluntarily vacate the wetlands. Mbabazi questioned the criteria used to identify those willing to leave the wetlands and raised concerns over the lack of specific numbers distinguishing those from Kigezi and Ngora.
CUE IN PIERRE……ON WETLANDS 2…….ENG/RR//
Mbabazi claimed the Association had evidence that in the financial year 2021/2022, the government released UGX 1 billion to facilitate the identification of wetland occupants and to conduct sensitization about the impending mass evictions. However, the funds were not accounted for, and the sensitization activities did not take place.
According to Mbabazi, the funds were meant to support a special committee chaired by the Prime Minister, alongside officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment and NEMA.
CUE IN PIERRE…..ON WETLANDS 3……ENG/RR//
As a way forward, the Greater Kigezi Patriotic Farmers Association proposes that the entire process of implementing the Presidential directive on wetlands in Kigezi be restarted.
They also demand that the processes of sensitization, identification, and land valuation involve broad consultations with all affected stakeholders to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and stability for socio-economic transformation in Kigezi.
