The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has instructed a private company, Gazoola Supplies Company Ltd, to cease its clay mining operations in Nakiyaga wetland, located in Buwunga Sub-county, Masaka District. Nema’s decision comes after receiving complaints from local residents, and it includes a requirement for the company to restore the damaged section of the wetland.
Gazoola Supplies Company Ltd has been actively mining clay in Nakiyaga wetland for several months. The clay extracted from this area is transported to Kapeeka Industrial Park in Nakaseke District, where it serves as a raw material for producing porcelain and ceramic tiles.
This directive to vacate the wetland is consistent with the National Environment Act of 2019 and a presidential directive that prohibits further encroachment on wetlands. According to Mr. William Lubuulwa, the senior public relations officer at Nema, the recent presidential directive restricts all activities in wetlands except for fish farming and eco-tourism projects. Mr. Lubuulwa emphasized the agency’s commitment to enforcing these regulations, citing ongoing actions in key areas such as Lubigi wetland in Kampala, Wakiso, and other districts like Rwampara and Bukedi, where significant environmental damage has occurred.
Mr. Lubuulwa also conveyed Nema’s determination to rectify past mistakes through renewed efforts to restore wetlands. He called upon all stakeholders to support these endeavors and clarified that industries and factories already operating with valid permits may continue, but no new permits will be issued.
Mr. Darlin Kavuma, the chairperson of Buwunga Sub-county in Masaka District, expressed appreciation for Nema’s decision. He urged Gazoola Supplies Company Ltd to return and restore the depleted section of the wetland by covering the open pits.
When approached for comment, Mr. Andrew Muzoola, the manager at Gazoola Supplies Company Ltd, declined to respond to Nema’s directive. However, he had previously stated in an interview that his company possesses an approved environment and social impact assessment report for their activities. He invited anyone interested in reviewing it to visit their offices in Kapeeka, asserting that they adhere to proper procedures.
Mr. Andrew Mafundo, the executive director of Citizens Concern Africa (CICOA), an organization promoting sustainable natural resource management, expressed concerns about the environmental degradation occurring in the country. He questioned Nema’s effectiveness in conserving natural resources and called for the establishment of a new entity with clear guidelines and rigorous enforcement capabilities to prevent further wetland destruction and protect crucial ecosystems.
Ms. Harriet Namayanja, the woman district councilor for Lwankoni Sub-county in Kyotera, echoed Mr. Mafundo’s sentiments, stating that Nema has often struggled to effectively implement its directives in the face of ongoing wetland destruction in Kyotera.
Nakiyaga wetland, spanning Buwunga and Bukakkata sub-counties, is a part of the Lake Nabugabo wetland system, which includes satellite lakes of Lake Victoria. It holds the status of a protected Ramsar Site, recognized as one of the wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Birdlife International has identified the Nabugabo wetland system as an Important Bird Area, with over 180 bird species, including globally threatened species, recorded in the system. However, the wetland has experienced significant degradation.
