environment 16 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kagadi District Faces Severe Wetland and Forest Destruction Amid Calls for Action
Environmental degradation in Kagadi District has reached alarming levels, with wetlands turned into farmlands and forests cleared for charcoal, prompting warnings from officials and leaders. The destruction is fueling human-wildlife conflicts, including chimpanzee attacks on residents. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kagadi-where-even-the-blind-see-that-swamps-and-forests-have-been-destroyed-5425356
Kagadi District in Uganda is witnessing rampant destruction of its natural ecosystems, as residents encroach on wetlands and forests for farming and charcoal production. Local leaders and activists describe the situation as dire, with even fragile areas like swamps in Nsugasugi A and Kikumbya B villages fully converted into maize fields spanning about five acres.
The Kagadi Resident District Commissioner, Caroline Nanshemeza, has issued stern warnings, urging encroachers to vacate the areas immediately or face arrest. She emphasized that draining wetlands violates environmental laws and called for harvesting existing crops without further planting.
Encroachment extends to multiple sub-counties, including Kyaterekera, Muhorro, and others, where sugarcane and eucalyptus plantations have replaced protected wetlands and reserves like Kangombe, Bugoma, and Katyobona. In Kinyararare, Kyabagogo, and Nyamacu, police intervened after 10 acres were degraded through drainage and burning.
Local chairperson Yosam Musisi of Kyaterekera Town Council highlighted the scale, noting six acres turned into eucalyptus and another six into sugarcane. District councillor Pius Ntambi accused some National Forestry Authority officers of taking bribes from charcoal burners, complicating enforcement efforts.
The habitat loss has intensified human-wildlife conflicts, particularly with chimpanzees. Conservationist Kuteesa Swale Kadoma reported that forest degradation forces the animals into human settlements, leading to crop raids and attacks. Over the past three years, more than five children have been killed, with over 80 attacks since the 1990s.
Local leaders face threats and resistance when trying to intervene, with some residents attacking their property. While some areas show restoration efforts, such as tree planting in Muhorro Sub-county, broader community and authority collaboration is needed to halt the damage.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)