Gerald Tenywa
13 January 2008
Kampala — THE National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has stopped a developer from encroaching on the remaining part of a wetland separating Kireka and Banda in Kampala.
"This part of the wetland is critical because it is a waterway that should be left to prevent floods," said Dr. Festus Bagora, the director of environment monitoring at NEMA.
The swamp receives storm water from Kamuli and Naalya and drains it into Lake Victoria through the Kinawataka swamp, which is also under pressure from developers and a rapidly expanding slum.
The Banda swamp was invaded by market vendors about two years ago but they were forcefully evicted. Bagora said the developers had been ordered to remove the soil that had been dumped in about four acres of the wetland during the last two weeks.
"The developer took advantage of the long holiday season to reclaim the swamp. When they realised that what they were doing was illegal, they started dumping the marram at night."
NEMA did not name the developers, but Kasozi, who claimed to be working for Shumuk, said he was hired to set up a car park by the company.
According to sources, the swamp also acts as a natural filter for chemical waste released by two factories, the pharmaceutical and paint companies located nearby.
The swamp is one of the few breeding grounds for the Crested Crane, which is under threat due to massive reclamation of swamps in the country. Due to the reclamation of the swamp, the birds had been displaced.
In a related development, Kira town council in Wakiso district on Wednesday ruled that the proposed project by Shumuk will not be cleared unless NEMA approves it.
The council also directed Shumuk to open all the blocked drainage channels. In a meeting chaired by Sam Mwesigwa of Kira town council, attended by LCs and other investors, Kasozi said he could unblock the channel if offered protection by the town council.
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