John Ninzeyimana Kamara, Bufumbira North County MP in Kisoro district, explained that he is ready to vacate the wetland since he has already started fish farming, where he expects a ready market in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Leaders in the Kigezi region have outlined several demands
that they insist the government must fulfill before they vacate wetlands, in
response to President Museveni's directives for environmental restoration.
These demands were highlighted during a meeting at Cephas Inn in Kabale
district, attended by officials from the National Environment Management
Authority (NEMA) led by their Executive Director, Barirega Akankwasah and
Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), and chaired by Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister
for Information and National Guidance.
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John Ninzeyimana Kamara, Bufumbira North County MP in Kisoro
district, explained that he is ready to vacate the wetland since he has already
started fish farming, where he expects a ready market in the eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance,
Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties), mentioned that the farmers
he has contacted are ready to vacate as long as they are compensated.
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However, James Ruuji Kaberuka, Kinkiizi West MP in Kanungu
district, and Frank Byaruhanga, Kanungu district speaker, accused NEMA and
district environment officers of rushing to cut down farmers' crops without
proper sensitization. They also argued that the government's style of
compensating affected farmers in groups is unfair.
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Pierre Mbabazi Ntegyereize, Rubanda District Deputy Speaker,
and Wilfred Arinda Nsheka, Rubanda District male youth councilor, emphasized
that before the farmers vacate, the government should first establish
irrigation schemes in the hilly areas of Bubaare-Kachwekano as well as
Karengyere and Nyanamo in Rubanda. They also called for education on soil
protection methods like contour plowing, mulching, and terracing.
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Wilfred Niwagaba, Ndorwa East County MP in Kabale district,
added that consultations on how compensation is done should involve the
individual affected farmers rather than just the government guessing what to
give. He also demanded a fresh survey and mapping of the wetlands.
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The restoration program, set to be implemented by 2025, is
valued at USD 44,262,000 million, funded by the Ugandan government, the Green
Climate Fund (GCF), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
