The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has rejected Parliament’s calls to compensate all residents who legally occupied the Lubigi wetland, citing that the current legal provisions deem all residents who established houses in the wetland as offenders not entitled to compensation.
Sarah Naigaga, NEMA’s Legal Affairs Officer, made the remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Tuesday. COSASE, chaired by Medard Ssegona, is investigating the recent evictions in Lubigi wetland in Kampala and Wakiso districts.
MPs asked NEMA officials if they had plans to compensate individuals with legal documents to occupy the wetland.
In response, Naigaga stated that no compensation would be given to any resident.
“The law considers all households issued with restoration orders as offenders. Therefore, we have deemed restoration as an enforcement action and tool, which does not grant interest or title to the restored areas to NEMA but rather protects the environment for the common good of all, including those affected by the eviction. We have not made any compensation to the affected persons,” Naigaga explained.
According to NEMA, out of 315 marked houses, 214 have been demolished, and the exercise will continue until all residents are evicted from the wetlands.
However, MPs urged NEMA to avoid using excessive force and to conduct the exercise lawfully.
