LC1s, LC2s accused of aiding wetland degradation in Kwania

11 June 2025, 4:59 pm

By Joshua Olomo

Kwania District Environment Officer, Jimmy Okweny, has accused some LC1 and LC2 chairpersons of abetting wetland degradation by accepting bribes from residents to allow cultivation in wetlands.

Speaking at a community meeting held yesterday in Ongoceng parish, Aduku subcounty, Okweny said his office has received multiple reports implicating local leaders in facilitating illegal wetland activities. The meeting was convened to hear public grievances concerning ongoing wetland encroachment.

The accusations come amid complaints from residents about a group of 54 individuals who have reportedly encroached on wetlands in the area for agricultural purposes.

Okweny urged community members and leaders to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting the wetlands, calling on them to report anyone engaged in wetland cultivation.

Pule Walter, the LC2 chairperson of Ongoceng parish, acknowledged the difficulty in curbing wetland encroachment, citing the involvement of some local leaders in the illegal activities.

Alfred Owili, the Parish Internal Security Officer (PISO) for Ongoceng, emphasised the importance of community participation in wetland protection, urging residents to view conservation as a shared responsibility that ultimately benefits them.

Local resident Tonny Ocen, from Abongo-Nyeko village, accused wetland cultivators of blocking traditional grazing routes and imposing fines on cattle owners whose animals stray into cultivated wetlands.

However, Martin Obura, the LC1 chairperson of Abongo-Nyeko, denied the allegations, insisting that no such fines are being imposed and that the community remains committed to lawful and sustainable land use.

The meeting ended with a call for strengthened collaboration between the community, security personnel, and environmental authorities to safeguard wetlands—key ecosystems in mitigating the effects of climate change.

In 2021, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni banned all wetland cultivation. The directive aimed to restore damaged ecosystems and help communities adapt to climate change.