According to Godfrey Mutemba, the Lwengo District Natural Resources Officer, their departments don’t have a vote within the EACOP budget and are as such, incapable of following up on environment-related concerns that were indicated in the Environment Impact Assessment report.
Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries lifted the ban on Lake Kyoga but directed that only boats with an interior overall length of 28-feet, recommended fishnets and registered fishermen are allowed on the Lake. Although the ministry maintained the deployment of unit personnel to enforce the guidelines, the same are now accused of abetting illegal fishing.
The District Council passed a resolution in 2001 for the termination of contracts of Parish Chiefs who were working in the various Sub Counties across the district. The resolution led to the termination of contracts for 89 Parish Chiefs who later dragged the district to court and sought compensation for unlawful termination.
Dozens of housing units have collapsed while others are on the verge of collapsing. The displaced persons are currently living along the streets, open places and around the Kangole Catholic Church as they await government intervention. Some of the affected families are struggling to open channels for the water to flow out of their homes.
