By Ben Musanje

Government has given an ultimatum to encroachers on wetlands to vacate them not later than July 20th 2017 to pave way for their recovery process.

The State Minister for Environment Mary Kitutu says they have a plan of recovering about 12% of the wetlands by 2020 in the effort to control effects of climate change.

Early this year, government through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and police gave three months to encroachers on wetlands like Lubigi in Wakiso district to vacate them before the law reaches them.

Kitutu says wetland coverage currently stands at 8% in the country and with the Kyoga basin which has the most number of wetlands in the eastern part of Uganda have been encroached on by several establishment however those in the Western parts of the country have accepted vacate most of the wetlands to pave way for their recovery.

She warns people who misuse such water bodies through activities like; washing vehicles, grazing and food cultivation to stop it.

Kitutu also announced plans for Uganda to host the African Great Lakes Conference in Kampala under the theme; “Conservation and Development in a Changing Climate” where eleven member countries will link science to solutions for conservation and sustainable development of these nations.


Friday 28th April 2017 06:48:21 AM