environment 11 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kabale District Launches Operation to Restore 60% Degraded Wetlands
Kabale District has initiated a significant operation to reclaim approximately 60 percent of its degraded wetlands, warning encroachers of potential forced eviction if they do not comply. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kabale-launches-operation-to-restore-60-degraded-wetlands-5553758
Authorities in Kabale District have launched a comprehensive operation aimed at restoring an estimated 60% of the region’s wetlands, which have suffered degradation primarily due to population growth and the demand for agricultural land.
The District Natural Resources Officer, Mr. Henry Tumwesigye, announced that while community sensitization on the importance of wetlands and the dangers of their degradation has been prioritized, forceful measures will be employed against those who resist voluntary vacating.
“With the support from the Ministry of Water and Environment, we have embarked on wetland restoration activities and strict measures of protecting the intact wetlands in our district,” Mr. Tumwesigye stated. He emphasized the need for physical boundary markers between public wetlands and private land, requesting special funding from the central government to prevent future encroachment.
Residents are urged to adopt climate-smart farming technologies on uplands instead of relying on wetland degradation for crop production. This initiative follows earlier enforcement actions, including the destruction of a banana plantation within the protected Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland.
The operation, supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for mitigating climate-related threats, targets the restoration of 19 recently degraded wetlands, with the 24-hectare Kabanyonyi-Kyanamira wetland being a priority.
However, the restoration drive faces challenges. Kabale LCV Chairman, Mr. Denis Nzeirwe Ndyomugyenyi, highlighted that some encroachers possess valid land titles issued by previous administrations, which may necessitate compensation for eviction. Local leaders also raise concerns about the economic stability of evicted farmers, suggesting that alternative livelihood provisions must be realistic and sustainable to prevent returns to the restored areas.