An equitable and transparent process must be paramount when evicting people

Recently, it was reported that the eviction of people from Lubigi wetlands by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has disrupted learning across 10 schools for 1,500 learners and 214 households displaced forcing them out in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District

Wetlands play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation and climate regulation. They include some of the most productive ecosystems in the world which are important as they host important animals and in many cases they are exclusive source of natural resources upon which rural economies depend on providing food and energy, medicine, building material, dry season grazing and transportation for large human populations.

NEMA with help from police and army made forceful evictions aimed at expelling all unauthorized inhabitants from the wetland areas. Homes were demolished, schools were closed leaving several individuals, children stranded and homeless, their properties destroyed. Livelihoods have been disrupted, resulting in children from affected families being unable to attend school due to their closure, among other pressing concerns

While it is important for the National Environmental Authority (NEMA) to ensure Uganda’s wetlands are protected, conserved and restored from encroachments and unsustainable activities, there must also be a fair and transparent process that can help these people evicted from being affected more especially school children. The current approach not only displaces vulnerable communities but also impacts on school children’s academic performance, mental and emotional well-being, social relationships and overall development.

Notably, the demolition of homes, schools and evictions carried out by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in Kampala’s Lubigi wetlands raises serious concerns about the fairness and legality of these actions while protecting environmentally sensitive wetlands where NEMA has allowed large corporations and businesses, including oil depots, factories, and rice farms, to establish operations in these wetland areas whereas the poorer residents who have lived in that place for over a decade are ruthlessly evicted without any fair justice

It is noted that the immediate displacement has not only stripped residents from their homes but also disrupted their livelihoods, I understand people don’t deserve to stay in wetlands, but they should not be treated inhumanely, they deserve better than this unjust treatment. Many of the evicted are rural-urban migrants who moved to the city seeking employment opportunities therefore, by demolishing their homes without providing adequate compensation or alternative housing, it means their fundamental rights are deprived. Therefore, it is only through fair and impartial enforcement we can achieve a true environmental sustainability and social equity in Lubigi

The government should provide alternative housing, livelihoods and schools for those displaced most especially children that have been schooling from there and ensure that all encroachers, regardless of their social or economic status, are held accountable. The government also needs to adopt a holistic approach that includes resettlement plans and sustainable livelihood programs in order to achieve a meaningful environmental conservation without disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable populations.

The writer, Olive Atuhaire is a research associate.