By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has defended the government’s decision not to compensate former residents of Lubigi Wetland, asserting that resettlement and compensation should be reserved for lawful activities, not for those who encroach on protected wetlands.
Tayebwa made these remarks during the plenary session on August 1, 2024, in response to Ronald Balimwezo (Nakawa East) who advocated for the compensation and resettlement of former Lubigi Wetland residents.
Balimwezo highlighted the delays by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in officially gazetting wetlands, which he claimed created loopholes that led people to unknowingly settle in these areas.
“When we talk about compensation and resettlement, this isn’t money that comes from the President’s pocket; it is taxpayer money. We need to ensure that we compensate only lawful practices. If people have settled in wetlands, where they shouldn’t be, they should be evicted without any compensation,” Tayebwa stated.
Premier Robinah Nabbanja echoed Tayebwa’s sentiments, affirming that the government will not compensate or resettle individuals evicted from wetlands and forested areas. She urged MPs to encourage their constituents to vacate these protected areas to preserve Uganda’s natural environment.
“Join me in protecting our nature. Uganda is blessed with rich biodiversity. Those who have traveled widely understand the impacts of global warming. Let us encourage our people to leave the wetlands and forests. We do not have the funds to resettle people who are illegally occupying these areas. They must leave,” Nabbanja emphasized.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 35% of the world’s wetlands have been lost since 1970. In Uganda, wetland coverage has decreased from 30,000 km² in 2000 to around 22,500 km², a 25% loss over two decades.
In a February 2020 briefing to Parliament, the Minister of State for Environment, Beatrice Anywar, warned that if the current rate of degradation continues, Uganda could lose all its wetlands by 2040. Wetland coverage in Uganda dropped from 15.5% in 1994 to 8.9% by 2016, with further declines expected.
The eastern region of Uganda has the most degraded wetlands at 46%, while the northern region has the least at 21%. Mbale District has the most degraded wetlands at 99%, while Ntoroko District has the most intact at 98%.
During a Parliamentary probe in June 2014, NEMA Executive Director Barirega Akankwasah rejected calls to compensate residents who had illegally occupied Lubigi Wetland. Instead, he urged Parliament to support the implementation of Section 55 of the NEMA Act 2019, which mandates that encroachers pay a fine of UGX 600 million or face a 12-year jail sentence to restore the wetland.
