ENVIRONMENT – The National Environment Management Authority has destroyed several acres of crops and trees illegally planted in orunyere wetland , Rwampara district.
The wetland has been under threat as residents encroach on the catchment area which drains into River Rwizi. It was being used by residents in Rwampara district and part of Ntungamo District.
However it has been encroached on by farmers growing vegetables,trees and rearing animals within the gazetted wetland area.The activities are also threatening monkeys and rare birds which had found home in the wetland.
On Wednesday,a team from NEMA led by Elongu Yona the south-western Environmental protection officer accompanied by Rwampara Resident District Commissioner,Jane Asiimwe Muhindo , police, staff from Rwampara district Natural Resources office and residents destroyed the crops and trees that were planted in the wetland.
Yona explained that NEMA had given out notices to those who had gardens in the wetland as well sensitizing them on the need to vacate the wetland. He further said that the depletion of orunyere wetland is a threat to the ecosystem.
Asiimwe Jane Muhindo, the RDC of Rwampara district, emphasized that the district is collaborating with NEMA to restore wetlands that have already been encroached upon.
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