environment 29 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Church Plantation Cleared in Kabale's Wetland Restoration Drive
Kabale district officials have dismantled a banana plantation belonging to a local Catholic church, intensifying their campaign to restore degraded wetlands and combat climate change impacts. Encroachers have been given a deadline to remove other structures. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/church-plantation-destroyed-as-kabale-intensifies-wetland-restoration-campaign--5478644
Authorities in Kabale District have taken a firm stance against wetland encroachment, with officials destroying a banana plantation owned by St. Peter Kabasigaba Catholic Church. The operation, conducted last Friday in Kagarama Parish, Buhara Sub-county, targeted the plantation located within the Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland.
District Natural Resources Officer Henry Tumwesigye Kamutoro stated that the action is part of a wider district-wide campaign to restore degraded wetlands, a critical effort to mitigate the escalating effects of climate change. “The Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland covers about 24 hectares and is the largest wetland restoration project currently being undertaken in the district. Any activities that compromise its ecological functions cannot be allowed to continue,” Tumwesigye explained. Kabale is working to restore 19 such wetlands with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Investigations have revealed further encroachments within the wetland and along the River Kirururuma, which flows through the protected area. These include residential houses and perimeter fences. Affected individuals have been granted a 21-day ultimatum to voluntarily remove these structures. “Failure to comply will leave the district with no option but to enforce the law. Wetlands are critical ecosystems that must be protected for the benefit of current and future generations,” Kamutoro warned.
Officials emphasized that the aim is not to completely deny communities access to wetlands but to ensure any activities are ecologically sound. Permissible activities like beekeeping, fish farming, and bamboo planting will require prior assessment and approval from relevant agencies to safeguard the wetland’s integrity.
The parish priest of Maziba Catholic Parish indicated he was awaiting a full report to comment further on the incident. This decisive enforcement action highlights the district’s commitment to upholding environmental protection laws and restoring vital ecosystems for water conservation, biodiversity, and climate resilience.