The wetland is a lifeline for communities in Nyabihooko, Nyabushenyi and Ruhaama Sub Counties and part of Isingiro district. But it is now covered in trenches, dug up by farmers who have started creating vegetable gardens, tree nurseries and rearing animals within the gazetted wetland area.
Ntungamo District Chairperson Denis Singahache says that the district is in advanced stages of ensuring that the depleted wetlands are restored. He also says that they have ordered for the arrest of residents who have encroached on the wetlands.
Ntungamo Municipality Town Clerk Christopher Ahimbisibwe told URN that the destruction of the artificial forest aims to send a signal to all those involved in the destruction of natural resources to cease adding that all land encroached on will soon be recovered.
Recently, Daniel Turyajunwa, the Ntungamo Municipal Environmental Officer gave the affected people a 15 days ultimatum to vacate the wetlands or risk being thrown out.
Recently, Ntungamo municipality started filling up Ruhafu wetland to pave way for the opening of access roads because the area has been allocated to private developers.
