news 14 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Law Society Calls for Wetland Demarcation Amid Evictions
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) is urging government bodies to clearly mark wetland boundaries to prevent ongoing disputes and controversial evictions, following recent demolition operations. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/law-society-demands-wetland-demarcation-amid-nema-eviction-operations-5496036
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has highlighted the critical need for government agencies, including the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Ministry of Water and Environment, to establish and visibly demarcate wetlands across the country.
Arthur Isiko, the ULS treasurer, stated that the absence of clear boundary markers is a significant factor contributing to encroachment and subsequent conflicts. He likened the situation to road reserves, suggesting that permanent markers should indicate precisely where wetland protection zones begin and end.
Isiko’s comments came after he visited residents in Buggu Village, Wakiso District, who were displaced by recent demolitions aimed at restoring the Kaliddubi Wetland. He argued that simply marking structures for demolition is insufficient and that authorities should provide clearer guidance to all individuals, including those with undeveloped plots in protected areas.
He also raised questions about why authorities permitted settlements to proliferate in some wetland areas before initiating enforcement actions. “The 1995 National Environment Act found some of these people already settled in these areas. If they are to vacate, compensation has to be considered,” Isiko noted.
NEMA confirmed the removal of over 100 homes from the Kaliddubi Wetland and similar operations in Kampala, where 58 illegal structures were demolished, restoring about 25 acres of degraded land. However, some affected residents, like Polycarp Ssekweyama, expressed confusion over the eviction criteria, stating they were not initially slated for demolition despite their homes being destroyed.
In another incident, crops were destroyed on more than 20 acres in Gobero, citing encroachment on the River Mayanja wetland, with residents claiming they received no prior notice.
While NEMA has temporarily suspended enforcement in Kampala to allow voluntary departures, restoration efforts are ongoing elsewhere to clear all encroachers.