Two arrested for encroaching wetland in Ibanda district

IBANDA-BY FEDNAND TUHAME

Two Ibanda business men have been arrested on orders of RDC Godfrey Mbetegyereize and taken to police to record a statement for having encroached on Kirimirire wetland along Ibanda-Mbarara highway.

The two have been identified as Godwin Tusiime, a coffee trader and Muzamiru Bateyo who deals in furniture. The accused refused to abide by the law against occupying wetlands.

Last week, the Ibanda RDC visited the affected area and found out that Bateyo had erected a septic tank and a pit latrine in the swamp.

Upon visiting the area today, the team which included the RDC, Assistant RDC, DISO, DPC, Municipal town clerk, Deputy Mayor and Municipal environment officer resolved that the two be arrested and also remove the soil they had piled in the wetland, demolish the toilet and septic tank.

Meanwhile; the Ibanda municipal town clerk, Authman Ssebadduka told the culprits never to use the land anymore.

The Ibanda municipal environment officer, Robert Tumwesigye said that such activities should be done from the buffer zone in a radius of 50 meters.

Meanwhile; Bateyo said that he was waiting for the technical team to advise him on what to do, adding that he had used over 200 fighter trucks of soil to cover the swamp.

Godwin Tusiime has agreed to remove the soil he had piled in the swamp, equivalent to 80 fighter tracks of soil.