Da Dona
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- Dec 16, 2025
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Authorities in Kabale District have destroyed a banana plantation belonging to St. Peter Kabasigaba Catholic Church after determining that it had been established within the protected Kabanyonyi–Kyanamira Wetland. The operation was conducted on May 29 by district natural resources officials and police as part of an ongoing campaign to restore degraded wetlands.
According to District Natural Resources Officer Henry Tumwesigye Kamutoro, the 24-hectare Kabanyonyi–Kyanamira wetland is the largest wetland restoration project currently underway in the district. Officials say any activities that threaten the wetland's ecological functions will not be tolerated.
Kabale District is currently restoring 19 degraded wetlands with support from the United Nations Development Programme as part of efforts to address climate change impacts such as flooding, soil erosion, and environmental degradation. Authorities have also identified houses and perimeter fences built within the wetland and have given encroachers 21 days to remove them or face enforcement action.
Officials clarified that wetlands are not entirely closed to community use. Activities such as beekeeping, fish farming, and bamboo growing may be permitted after environmental assessment and approval to ensure they do not harm the ecosystem.
The parish priest of Maziba Catholic Parish, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Leoson Mbabazi, said he was awaiting a formal report on the incident before commenting further.
The latest action highlights growing enforcement of environmental protection laws in Uganda as authorities seek to restore wetlands that are vital for water conservation, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.
Source: Daily Monitor UG