East African Gazette
Nansana
Numerous individuals residing in Lubigi wetland found themselves without homes, and numerous businesses were ruined due to the eviction carried out by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to remove residents who were illegally occupying the area.
In the early hours of June 17, 2024, the Uganda Police anti-riot unit, along with the army, had to resort to using tear gas to prevent Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Joel Ssenyonyi, area leaders and residents from carrying out their scheduled tour and demonstration at the Lubigi wetland site protesting what they called the unfair eviction.
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) removed residents from the wetland last week due to illegal occupation.
Ssenyonyi addressed the residents and attempted to access the site. This prompted the Police to engage him in a futile verbal exchange which led to into a clash, in what had resulted into a protest.
Ssenyonyi was rushed away from the scene by Parliament security.
Early Ssenyonyi said while NEMA has a mandate to execute, there are questions which Gov’t ought to respond to; Why let people put up structures over the years, including businesses from which Gov’t has been collecting taxes for long, only to wake up now and demolish?
“Why the double standards of targeting some and not others(there’s a police station right in the middle of that area, a fuel station and other structures which have not been demolished)’’ he noted
Adding that he spoke to the leadership of NEMA, and encouraged them to have a meeting with the affected people and area leaders, so that NEMA airs out their concerns, and the residents get to share their concerns too, including those who have titles and bibanjas.