Resistance as gov’t launches wetland restoration in Tororo district

TORORO-Communities bordering major wetlands in Tororo district in eastern Uganda are resisting government’s move of demarcating wetlands.

The government through the Ministry of Water and Environment has reportedly secured support under green climate funds to restore wetlands in the 26 districts facing serious degradation.

During the recent launch of the border demarcation exercise at Posuna Wetland in Magola Sub-county, residents whose land stretches up to the wetland posed resistance saying the government was tactfully coming to grab their land.

The residents said their lives depend on wetlands.

The wetland restoration in Tororo district is mainly affecting over 2,000 families in the village of; Pimor, Malawa A&B, Posuna A & B, Pomiela A&B, Magoro A&B, Pakamalumi A&B, Osia A&B.

According to Nobert Ofumbi, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer [GISO] for  Magola Sub-county, the residents have not welcomed the wetland demarcation exercise.

“I don’t know why government is now spearheading the programme. The wetland that the government has come to reclaim is the major source of livelihood to our families and by evicting us means the government has indirectly sent us to the grave,” he said.

Laston Oketcho, the LC1 chairperson of Malawa village told the officials that none of them is ready to leave the wetland not until they are shown alternative land to settle in.

He said some of them inherited the land from their parents while others bought it from neighbours.

He said, ‘’I wonder why the government is trying to inflict pain among its citizens”

“We have been using the wetlands throughout all the regimes and none of them has ever been claiming ownership,” he said.

He described the move as a plot by aliens to technically snatch land from communities.

However, the Resident District Commissioner, Nickson Owole appealed to the resisting residents to peacefully surrender the wetland before the law catches up with them.

He said the issues relating to management of wetlands are known to be for the government.

“Those resisting are just agents of the devil. For now, we shall not use force but if resistance continues then he will not hesitate to apply force,” he said.

“There is no miracle that residents will use it to become rich apart from accepting the proposed alternative source of livelihood. We are handling you with gloves otherwise if you show that you are resistant then we may opt for another means,” he said.

Joseph Ongol, the Assistant Commissioner of Wetlands Management in the Ministry of Water and Environment said under the arrangement the government will restore all Wetlands across the country.

He allayed fears from the residents that the move will drive them into abject poverty.

“Under the arrangement, government has secured support through green climate pool to support all the affected communities with alternative livelihoods,” he said.

He said the affected communities will be required to form groups and identify enterprises that can be funded using the grants.

“We have given time to farmers who already have maturing crops to harvest their crops,”he said.

Ongol added that the communities can use the land for fish farming or practice beekeeping.

However, the district LC5 chairperson, John Okeya challenged the affected families to accept the programme.

He asked them to form the required groups so that they are funded.

“As a district, we will continue pursuing with the government to make sure that the exercise doesn’t seriously affect your livelihoods,” he said.

The Tororo district natural resources officer, Sailas Anguti said the restoration exercise will begin with the demarcation of the buffer and the planting of trees.

He encouraged neighbouring communities to ensure that they protect the planted trees.

“The district will deploy scouts to monitor the growth of trees and protect it from being destroyed by animals,” he said.

He added that the restoration will also include the wetland of Kasipodo in Kayoro Subcounty.

https://thecooperator.news/butaleja-leaders-divided-over-wetland-demarcation/

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