The Wakiso districts’ Nansana Municipality has accused the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) of failing an environmental conservation management plan for the municipality.
Speaking to the media at her office on Tuesday morning, Regina Nakkazzi Bakitte noted that they have faced a number of cases where investors encroach on wetlands with approvals from NEMA and the Finance Ministry which sabotage the plans to protect the environment.
In 2020, the Ministry of Water and Environment vowed to demarcate all wetlands within Wakiso district following reports of reduced wetlands from 11 percent to seven percent most of them had been annexed by factories, sand mining, real estate developments and agriculture among others.
Bakitte says they had developed a plan of environment conservation through which the wetlands could be protected but it has been violated by corrupt officials from NEMA who awards certificates to investors to construct in the wetlands.
She explains that those stopped, run back to the Finance Ministry and return with a certificate allowing them to continue with their construction processes which have failed the conservation of environment in the municipality.
Bakitte, however, appeals to the government to avoid contradicting with the laws of this country by desisting from bypassing the policies of environmental protection.
While contacting the NEMA Spokesperson Naomi Karekaho, she refuted the Mayor’s allegations saying that no factory has been permitted in wetlands and the authority is working with all the district leadership through a centralized environment management.
