Ntungamo Residents Protest Proposed Evictions

More than 500 people in Ntungamo Municipality are protesting their proposed eviction from Kakingora wetland.  The affected people claim, that government allocated them 400 hectares in the wetland for farming. They are now surprised that the National Environment Management Authority-NEMA is threatening to evict them.

 

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. Rwampororo Mpamizo owns two acres of tree seedlings, vegetables and washing bay in the wetland and is opposed to their proposed eviction.

 

Mpamizo accuses Ntungamo municipal council of implementing the law selectively.  He says the evictions only target a few individuals.

//Cue in: “RR aba NEMA ntubagambira….

Cue out:……bahatware oweye.”//



Some of the residents claim to have paid money to the municipality to acquire space in the wetland. Robert Muhereza and Rosebell Amumpaire allege that they pad UGX 2 Million to officials at Ntungamo municipal council after paying a sum of 2m shillings each.

 

 

They claim that on paying the money, they were authorized to develop the wetland adding that, they are not ready to vacate come what may.

 

//Cue in: “RR kuhisya akaire hati…..



Daniel Turyajunwa, the Ntungamo Municipal Environmental Officer says Kakingora wetland as the major water catchment area for the entire municipality.

Turyajuna says the water supplied to the municipality is pumped from Kakingo wetland.

//Cue in: “RR Ntungamo municipal council…..

Cue out...mbamanya nbwenu Burikimu.”//

Turyajuna rubbishes claims by some residents that they bought land in the wetland saying it is illegal.

In 2012, Ntungamo municipality authorities filled up Ruhafu wetland to pave way for the opening of access roads drawing protests from residents due to the resultant flooding.