Time is running out
for people who encroached and settled in wetlands, lake
shoreline and river banks following a directive from President
Yoweri Museveni that they should vacate the hitherto protected
areas immediately.
In a two page letter addressed to the
Minister of Water and Environment, Mr. Sam Cheptoris, President
Museveni said that it was unacceptable for encroachers to stay
in protected wetlands which has led to flooding due to
the rising water levels on many water bodies across the country
.
“ I am therefore, directing you to remove
all the people on the wetlands, shore-line, river-banks
and government forests,” Museveni says in the letter
which is copied to the Vice President, the Prime Minister and
Minister of Energy and mineral development .
He said that government will only exempt the
people who are settled in Busoga- Bukedi- and
Kigyezi because they were “ misled by the earlier governments .”
“ You should not only remove the
encroachers but should working with local government ensure
that Muruka and Gombolala Chiefs who never took action
against the encroachers should be dismissed ,” he
directed .
The President was alarmed by the fact that
gardens were found on the floating island that hit the Owen
Fall Dam last month and caused nationwide power shutdown . Many
Villas for the rich that were built along the lake Victoria shoreline
have flooded in recent days as the lake water levels continue
to swell .
The National Environment Act the law that
relates to environment management in Uganda prohibits encroachment
and settlements in protected areas such as forests , wetlands ,lake
shore-lines and river banks .
Inter generational -international environmental law principles provides for equity in the exploitation of environmental resources between and among generations. The principles alludes to the fact that the present generation should ensure that the healthy, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained for the benefit of the present and future generations.
