By: Melanie Aanyu

Communities bordering major wetlands in Tororo District yesterday Tuesday 20,September,2022 resisted attempts by government to launch wetland restoration exercise.

Uganda’s water and environment ministry has reportedly secured support under green climate funds to restore wetlands in at least 26 districts facing serious degradation.

During the exercise launch at Posuna Wetland in Magola Sub County, residents whose land stretches up to the wetland opposed the move claiming that “government was tactfully coming to grab their land.”

The wetland restoration is projected to affect over 2,000 families in the villages of Pimor, Malawa A&B, Posuna A & B, Pomiela A&B, Magoro A&B, Pakamalumi A&B, Osia A&B.

Malawa village LC1 chairperson Laston Oketcho told the wetland restoration officials that “no one is ready to go off the wetland not until they are shown an alternative land for their settlement.”

Claiming to have inherited the land from their parents, locals further asked for government compensation.

Meantime, the Tororo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Nickson Owole appealed to the resisting residents to peacefully surrender the wetland before the law catches up with them.

Ministry of water and environment assistant commissioner for wetland management Joseph Ongol disclosed that government aims to restore wetlands countrywide.