The Kisoro District Wetland Restoration and Conservation Project team has accused political leaders of sabotaging wetland conservation efforts in order to secure votes.
This statement comes after the team had scheduled a meeting at the Kirundo Subcounty headquarters with residents who are encroaching on the Gichuba wetland. However, the encroachers failed to attend the meeting.
Kisoro District Environmental Officer Akankwasa Unice criticized political leaders for offering mere lip service to environmental protection as a way to gain votes, particularly during the recently concluded Kisoro District Woman Member of Parliament by-elections.
Akankwasa revealed that the restoration of wetlands is ongoing across Kisoro District and Uganda at large, in alignment with the presidential initiative to conserve the environment.
She further added that over 1,200 hectares of encroached wetland have been restored out of 1,990 hectares in Kisoro District.
Akankwasa stated, “Leaders encouraged residents to encroach on wetlands in the pursuit of votes. However, it was not documented in Ugandan law that locals are allowed to access the wetlands. We are following President Museveni’s guidelines on environmental conservation. If those leaders are unaware of this, they should come and inform us that the constitution has been amended. Gichuba wetland is not the only wetland we are restoring; we are working to restore all wetlands across the district. Soon, we will provide goats, cows, and sheep as alternative livelihoods for the residents who were evicted from Mishishi wetland and other wetlands.”
Nvuyekure Geofrey, the Chairperson of LC3 Kirundo Subcounty, revealed that some top leaders, during their campaigns in the recent Kisoro District by-elections, encouraged residents to embrace wetland encroachment in order to increase their harvests.
He added that this has caused significant tension between the Kisoro District Wetland Restoration and Conservation team and the encroachers.
Nvuyekure expressed concern over the unfulfilled promises made by the district’s Wetland Restoration and Conservation team, which he believes have led some encroachers to degrade the natural beauty and ecosystem of the environment.
He remarked, “During the recent elections, at the rally at Kisharu Primary School, Minister Chris Baryomunsi told the electorate that wetlands in the Kigezi and Bukedea regions are to be used by the public. He also mentioned that he is the Vice Chairperson for the Western Region and the Minister of Information and Communication Technology. Now, residents are asking themselves: who is better, Chris Baryomunsi or the district leaders?”
Similarly, LCV Councilor for Kirundo Subcounty, Bishubeho Louis, commended the Ugandan government for providing alternative livelihoods to encroachers as a better way of conserving wetlands.
Bishubeho also urged Kisoro District to demarcate and establish boundaries between government-owned wetlands and public land in order to conserve Gichuba wetland and other wetlands in the district.
He noted, “In previous years, residents used to leave some wetlands to gather building materials and materials for making mats. Unfortunately, some people have started encroaching on government wetlands, which is not acceptable.”
Meanwhile, this Friday, encroachers who were evicted from the Mishishi wetland are receiving alternative livelihoods, such as cattle, goats, and sheep, from the Kisoro District Wetland Restoration and Conservation Project team.
