The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) working with the Ministry of Water and Environment, and the Environment Protection Police Unit has halted the encroachment of the Nakiyanja wetland located at Sonde, Kira Municipality in Wakiso District.
NEMA made the revelation in a statement by its Corporate Communications Unit on April 9, 2024.
This comes after NEMA inspectors established that the degradation was allegedly occasioned by Ms. Genagri Limited who was misleading the inspectors with a certificate of approval No. ΝΕΜΑ/ΕΙΑ/15422 issued to develop mixed residential and commercial structures on a small piece of dry land elsewhere but rather illegitimately encroaching on the nearby wetland.
According to NEMA, the halt is aimed at protecting the critical environment of Uganda.
“Nakiyanja is a critical wetland that drains into River Sezibwa which eventually serves the greater Kayunga and Mukono districts,” NEMA stated.
NEMA noted that wetland degradation raises the possibility of more flooding, biodiversity loss, and the destruction of various species’ habitats.
In September 2021, NEMA, in a bid to take decisive action to address all environmental violations across the country, suspended approvals and issuance of permits for activities in wetlands.
