The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Police and Masindi District Local Government, has embarked on an operation to reclaim wetlands that have been encroached on by sugar cane farmers in Masindi District.
The exercise has seen the eviction of several farmers who had occupied approximately 200 hectares of the Kyanga-Kyakaki wetland in Bwijanga Sub-county, as authorities intensify efforts to restore degraded wetlands and protect water sources.
The operation, targeted six farmers who had allegedly encroached on the Kyanga-Kyakaki wetland in Ntooma Parish, Bwijanga Sub-county.
Accompanied by police and UPDF personnel, environmental officials, with the support of sugar cane cutters, destroyed sugar cane, maize and other crops that had been cultivated in the protected area.
The operation followed failure by the affected farmers to comply with NEMA restoration orders that required them to vacate and restore the wetland within 21 days.
Among those affected were individuals identified as local government employees, businesspeople and Kyanga Church of Uganda.
The district environment officer says the wetland was previously a grazing ground for livestock farmers before sugar cane growers encroached on the area, destroying indigenous trees and disrupting the traditional land use.
Nabukenya says wetland encroachment has also affected water levels in several government-constructed valley dams, which depend on the wetlands for water supply.
The Regional Environmental Protection Officer for Albertine North, Stephen Emabwor, says the operation is part of ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws and ensure that restored wetlands are not occupied again.
He warns that anyone who returns to cultivate crops in the reclaimed areas will face arrest and prosecution.
NEMA Assistant Commissioner for the Albertine Graben, Christine Ainabyoona, says the authority has been sensitising farmers since 2025 and issuing restoration orders, but some encroachers have continued ignoring the directives.
She says NEMA will continue with restoration exercises, with the cost of restoring degraded wetlands being borne by those responsible for their destruction.