The National Environment Management Authority-NEMA has razed down Masanafu Islamic primary school, two shrines, and hundreds of illegal structures in the Masanafu Bukulugi zone on day three of the going operations to restore Lubigi Wetland. Masanafu Islamic primary school has been operating in temporally structures in Masanafu swamp along the Kampala northern by-pass road.
Umar Turyahebwa, a teacher and Imam of the school, said they had enrolled 100 learners from primary one to primary seven and were set to open for the third term on August, 29th, 2022. He, however, says that they are now stuck with the demolition of the school.
According to Turyahebwa, the school proprietor Mustafa Lubega told the teachers that he could not construct permanent structures without securing a title for the land. NEMA also demolished three shrines that were found in the wetland. However, police later battled with Masanafu ghetto youth who were occupying Masanafu swamp where they had constructed temporary wooden structures. Both the army and police arrested some of the youths who were found with marijuana for sale.
Some of the Ghetto youths claimed that they were reformed criminals who were affected part of the swamp by the government after getting them off the streets of Kampala. They also appealed to Mark Bugembe alias Butcherman, the presidential adviser on the Ghetto to come to their rescue, saying they have nowhere to go.
Tony Achidria, the deputy spokesperson of NEMA, said that the operations will continue as one of the mechanisms in line with the government’s efforts to restore wetlands in the country. He said NEMA is going to look at all the developments in the Lubigi ecosystem to ascertain whether they have the required approvals to operate in wetlands.
He further said that NEMA is going to embark on a sensitization campaign for the public to know the different reasons why they should not encroach on wetlands. According to the national environment act, wetland resources are supposed to be utilized in a sustainable manner compatible with the continued presence of wetlands and their hydrological functions and services. It also requires anybody interested in utilizing the wetland to conduct an environmental impact assessment for any activities likely to harm the wetland.
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