Opinion

NEMA squeezes a Chinese investor

Press Release

ICE LOVE CO. LTD VOLUNTARILY COMPLIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS TO RESTORE THE MAYANJA-KATO WETLAND ECOSYSTEM, BUWALI CELL, NSANGI WARD, KYENGERA TOWN COUNCIL IN WAKISO DISTRICT DEGRADED

Kampala, September 12^th, 2023— Mayanja-Kato is part of the greater Lubigi wetland system, the largest in Kampala. It drains Mulago, Kawempe, and Bwaise, and serves neighboring districts to the North and Western Parts of Kampala. This wetland is a critical water catchment area for the central region and is a significant source of water for the water-stressed areas of the cattle corridor in Central Uganda.

Like all wetlands in Uganda, the Kato-Mayanja wetland has suffered degradation resulting from encroachment for construction, cultivation, and settlement. Yet, wetlands remain essential for human wellbeing as they store and filter water before eventual release into water bodies like Lake Victoria.

Uganda has lost wetland coverage from 15.5% in 1994 to 13% in 2017. Of the remaining available wetlands by 2019, only 8.9% are still intact while 4.1% are degraded.

Through NEMA routine inspections, we discovered encroachment of the Mayanja-Kato wetland by Ice Love Company Ltd. We issued a restoration order. The investor on receiving the restoration order, accepted to make good the damage in order to prevent prosecution. The exercise for restoration will be overseen and guided by NEMA and the Wetland Management Department.

It should be noted that NEMA stopped issuing permission for projects in wetlands in September 2021 and has been offering compliance assistance services to companies that were found on the wrong side of the environment law.

Notes to Editor:

The President has severally guided on wetlands protection and issued directives and most recently advised NEMA to come up with a pre-category plan in order to avoid assessing every factory that wants to come on board, explaining that, “These are not new factories, they have been existing elsewhere so they should be pre-categorized to make the process fast.”

Ice Love Company Ltd did not comply with the Kyengera Town Council Environment compliance notice; the company lacks space for expansion and may resort to degrading the Mayanja wetland; and, Ice Love Co. Ltd has no demarcation pillars to guard the company and the community from encroaching on the wetland.

For any questions or concerns, please get in touch with us at the address below:

Corporate Communications Unit

National Environment Management Authority

NEMA House Plot 17/19/21 Jinja Road

Tel. +256 414 425 168