Museveni orders eviction of Lake Kacheera encroachers

President Museveni has directed that all people encroaching on the shores of Lake Kacheera in Lyatonde District be evicted immediately.

Speaking at Lyakajula Village, Lyantonde District as he marked the end of his wealth creation tour in Buganda Region on Wednesday, Museveni said “without conserving the environment all my government’s efforts to promote sustainable development in the country will be put to waste.”

Lake Kacheera is a major water source for communities in Lyantonde, Rakai, Isingiro and Kiruhura districts.

Its tributaries connect to both Lake Kijjanebarora and River Kagera which pour into Lake Victoria.

“All those people who are planting maize and cabbages in the swamps around Lake Kacheera should stop with immediate effect. They are destroying the environment and very soon what we are planning in the agriculture sector will also fail due to their actions,” he said.

Museveni added that Lake Kacheera is vital in the development of the cattle corridor area because it serves piped water to the districts of Rakai, Lwengo, Lyantonde and Kiruhura.

“It is these poor farming activities that have destroyed the swamps. The water is now dirty and salty, making it expensive to treat. We cannot allow this to continue because we need this water to feed animals, irrigation and domestic use,” he said.

To ensure a swift and smooth eviction exercise, the president ordered for a joint partnership between Lyantonde District, Rakai District and line ministries.

However, the president said some portion of the swamps, especially in the peripheral zones, would be used to promote fish cage farming to boost people’s livelihoods in the area.

“I have personally tested fish farming at my Kawumu farm in Luweero District and it is a lucrative business. My people there are earning Shs4.6 million per month from a pond, this is good money to provide both food and household income,” Mr Museveni said.

He donated water pumps to farmers led by Maj. General Pecos Kuteesa, one of the Army represents in Parliament to help promote crop irrigation in the area.

Mr Patrick Aliga, the manager National Water and Sewerage Cooperation Lyantonde Branch had earlier last week told Daily Monitor that the water levels in Lake Kacheera had gone down due to massive encroachment on the surrounding swamps.

“The deepest point of Lake Kacheera is seven feet which is very dangerous for its sustainable water catchment, but this is due to poor farming activities near the lake,” Aliga said

Amos Mandela, a Member of Parliament for Buyamba Constituency, Rakai District  welcomed the presidential directive, saying it would fast-track development in the area.

“Fish farming as the president suggests, is going to help our farmers earn much money and at the same time conserving the environment. I only appeal to those affected not to resist eviction, but comply with the directive,” Mr Mandela said

Wetlands cover less than 10 percent of Uganda’s land surface area, however these wetlands have been on a downward slide from 15. 6 percent in 1994 to 10.3 percent in 2015.