Thousands of residents are in panic and stranded after the National Environment Management Authority giving the ultimatum to vacate the Namiro wetland in Entebbe.
The residents were handed restoration orders to vacate the water logged area in 21days.In a letter dated June 8th,2020 and signed by the NEMA executive director, Dr. Tom O.Okurut clearly indicates the extent at which the wetland has been degraded by the encroachers who claim to own tittles in the swampy area.
The report indicates that residents have erected illegal structures in the wetland on addition to fencing- off the wetland hence obstructing free public access to the wetland. Several illegal structures have been erected in the swamp including hotels and churches. Hundreds of residential facilities are flooded following the over flow of Lake Victoria that has affected thousands of residents along the lake shores.
NEMA authorities including the environmental police faced the bitterness of residents last week as they visited the affected residents in Namiro swamps including one rowdy man that pulled out a panga to chop the armed police men. Several posho buildings have been erected in the swamp including the Migingo suites,Airport view hotel, Entebbe University and others.
Residents are protesting the government eviction and want government to compensate them first before vacating them from the flooded area with several houses that have been put down by water floods.
Abubaker Walusimbi also parliamentary hopeful for Entebbe municipality visited the affected residents and advised government to the residents more time before evicting during this period of time as corona virus has hit the World.
