Developer arrested over wetland degradation

A developer has been arrested over wetland degradation in Rubaga Division.
Mr Kennedy Muwana, a son of city businessman John Ssebalamu, was arrested while supervising construction of housing units in Nyanama-Mutundwe wetlands in Rubaga Division in Kampala yesterday. The environmental police raided the vast swamp that has been nearly wiped out by heaps of soil.

A Chinese investor Zhang Jianpeng and owners of a Pentecostal Church ‘Holy Family Ministries’, who are the co-accused, fled the scene but commander of the Environmental Police Emmanuel Esabo said they were pursuing them.

ASP Esabu’s team seized documents from Mr Muwana, which were purported to have been issued by the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) and others from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) claiming the activities on the wetland had been approved.
Mr Muwana’s lawyer Andrew Katongole Kityo said the housing units under construction would be distributed to residents with whom Mr Ssebalamu had agreed to relocate in exchange for the land to expand his Freedom City property in Najjanankumbi.
“We have a permit to use at least an acre of land in that area,” Mr Katongole said.

The permit issued on July 11, allows Mr Muwana to set up a bakery, ware house and residential building on Block 36, Plot 14, Kampala in Mutundwe.
“At least I am an 80 per cent complainant. The small extension was done by the workers. I don’t deserve to be arrested,” Mr Muwana said.
The operation comes after complaints from residents accusing the investors depleting the wetlands and causing floods in their homes.
The residents also accused Nema, the environmental police and KCCA of being supporters of degradation.

They said they had on several occasions seen KCCA, environmental police and Nema vehicles visit the wetland and look like “supervisors because in some incidents trucks pour soil in their presence.”
Mr Zhang, in a WhatsApp message, denied he was the owner of the land.
One of the officials of the Holy Family Ministries, who identified himself as Francis Lukyamuzi, on Saturday said they had only made a small extension into the wetland.

Rubaga Division deputy mayor Ahmed Ntare said he was not aware of the swamp being degraded.
Environmental police commander Esabu yesterday said: “We will issue an order to the Chinese to remove the soil. When he fails, we will prosecute him. For Muwana, we are taking him to court.”

Wetlands

Wakiso and Kampala metropolitan areas have had great wetland degradation due to population pressures that seek land for settlement and industrialisation.
Charges. An offence of environmental degradation attracts up to three years in jail or a fine between Shs200,000 and Shs18m.

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