MASINDI ENCROACHERS FORCED TO RESTORE DEGRADED WETLAND

By Yosam Gucwaki
www.mknewslink.com
In Masindi
The two men who were arrested for degrading a wetland in Masindi district yesterday started restoring it.
Tabu Alex and Charles Dama all residents of Kirasa cell in Masindi central division were on Monday arrested together with John Kiiza who had hired them to cultivate the wetland and taken to Masindi police from where they were released yesterday on police bond after agreeing to restore the wetland they had degraded.
Our reporter visited the degraded wetland located along Masindi-Kafo road and found the two replacing the papyrus plants in about a quarter acre of the degraded wetland under the supervision of the district environment officer, Olivia Nabukenya.
Nabukenya said that the activity is part of governments efforts of protecting environment from degradation adding that the two have not been charged with any offence since they were hired by someone
She however said Kiiza has been charged with degrading the wetland and was still in police detention as his case file is processed to be taken to court to answer the charges.
She warned other people in the district against degrading wetlands revealing that the operation is to continue across the entire district in which they will destroy the crops that will be found in the wetlands before ordering the culprits to restore the degraded wetlands.
Alex Tabu, one of the two who were restoring the wetland told our reporter from the site that he is aware that it is illegal to cultivate in the wetland but he did it to get money.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106