The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) says investigations are still ongoing about the private developer who was dumping soil into Bubuli swamp in Mpala Village, Katabi Town Council.
Bubuli swamp is connected to Nambigirwa wetland which covers 2.4 kilometers in Katabi and has links to Namiiro wetland that borders the shorelines of Lake Victoria in Entebbe municipality.
In a statement dated February 2, 2022, NEMA noted it had sent inspectors to the site in Mpala and arrested truck drivers and operators of excavators and tractors who were found dumping soil into the swamp.
However, to date, the person who hired the truck drivers and machine operators (excavators and tractors) is unknown according to Tony Acidria, NEMA’s deputy spokesperson.
NEMA said that the developer, only identified as Dr. Cedric, was also directed to stop dumping soil into the swamp and restore the area.
Asked whether or not Dr. Cedric is on the run, Acidria insisted that “investigations are ongoing. We cannot tell whether or not he is on the run unless he or she can be fully identified.”
He added, “There is no timeliness within which investigations must be completed. What is important is that the encroachment was stopped…and restoration of the area is in progress.”
Simon Okoshi, the Acting Commandant of the Environmental Protection Police Unit, says he is also not aware of Dr. Cedric’s full identity but investigations are still going on.
When our reporter approached residents and local leaders of the area, they all said they only know the owner of the site as Dr. Cedric.
The LCI Chairperson Albert Mugambwa says that he moved with a team of area leaders when the matter first came up and told Dr. Cedric to stop further developments in the swamp.
“He told us that he did not intend to encroach on the swamp but was forced to dump soil to protect his animals from snakes that had started finding their way into his farm that is at the edge of the swamp.”
Mugambwa says the developer has since stopped dumping soil into the swamp.
Paddy Kakumba, the Katabi Town Clerk, says Dr. Cedric has complied with NEMA’s directive to stop dumping soil into the wetland. “He has however not produced documents of his house to show whether or not its physical plan was approved.
The area leaders and NEMA acted after Maria Assumpta Nakamya alias Mama Nalubaale reported that someone was dumping soil into Bubuli swamp which would result in the destruction of habitat for aquatic plants and animals also affect water quality and biodiversity.
Nakamya, has in recent months been alerting the government and public about encroachment activities on Lake Victoria, particularly at Kitubulu by Ruperalia Group of Companies and an unknown developer erecting a fence in parts of Kitubulu Forest Reserve.
Nakamya says she will continue looking out for environmental degradation because citizens must participate in protecting the environment by working with NEMA, Police, and local authorities.
