NEMA Meets Kampala Leaders Over Lubigi Wetland Restoration

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has today hosted the political leaders of Kampala led by Lord Mayor His Worship Erias Lukwago in a two-hour discussion about the ongoing restoration exercise of the Lubigi Wetland System.

The restoration exercise is being undertaken by Government with several institutions taking part, including the Ministry of Water and Environment, National Environment

Management Authority (NEMA) and Kampala Capital City Authority, supported by other agencies.

The Lord Mayor was in company of the Deputy Lord Mayor Her Worship Doreen Nyanjura, the Nakawa Division Mayor, and councilors from the divisions of the City. The District Police Commander CPS also attended the meeting.

NEMA and the political leaders cordially discussed several issues relating to the

operations, and reached the following resolutions.

Resolutions

The meeting agreed that the current restoration exercise should go on, but that:

 Local council leaders should mobilise their communities that have encroached on the wetlands to vacate peacefully

 NEMA should formally write to KCCA and Uganda National Roads Authority to ascertain claims of people who allegedly are waiting for compensation from UNRA and KCCA over Jinja Expressway and Lubigi Channel works respectively

 NEMA to work closely with local governments and the Ministry of Water and Environment in the ongoing restoration exercise

 A Natural Resources and Environment Committee for KCCA be constituted by 15th July this year to help coordinate environment activities with NEMA

 Anybody who has been served with a restoration order, and contests the order an appeal review system should be expedited to timely hear and resolve the petitions

NEMA calls upon all the people to remain calm and law-abiding during this exercise.

Peaceful consultative meetings will be held between government and the affected

persons to ensure that the exercise remains peaceful.