Katosi Residents Protest NEMA Wetland Evictions, Accuse Officials of Land Grabbing

Tension is running high in Katosi Town Council, Mukono District, after the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) intensified investigations into wetland encroachment, triggering protests in three villages where over 3,000 residents fear losing their land and investments.

The situation escalated dramatically when NEMA officials entered the area and began planting demarcation stones to mark sections of land as protected wetlands.

The move has been met with fierce resistance from residents of Katosi Central, Kisakombe-Bunakijja  and  Nakitolota-Kizaala Buganda villages, who insist they are lawfully settled on the shores of Lake Victoria and not in wetlands.

In response, residents convened an urgent meeting involving local security officials and town council leaders to chart a way forward. Notably absent were senior government officials from both Mukono District and Katosi Town Council, who boycotted the gathering, further fueling suspicions among the affected communities.

Village chairpersons, led by Davis Ssegirinyan Chairperson of Kizaala Buganda Village, strongly refuted NEMA’s classification.

 “We are not in wetlands we are on the lake shores,” Ssegirinya said. “The laws clearly stipulate the exact meters we are supposed to leave as a buffer. We are surprised to now see them claiming we are in wetlands. We will not accept this because there are people who want to grab our land.”

Residents allege that the demarcation exercise is a pretext for land grabbing by powerful individuals. They claim the controversy began approximately three months ago, with the physical planting of marker stones occurring only in the past two weeks.

Many residents say they have already been allocated plots and invested significant sums of money in planned developments, including residential houses, hospitals, places of worship, and various business ventures. They argue that allowing these projects would bring much-needed investment and economic growth to the area.

Hajji Musa Mulika, visibly emotional during the meeting, voiced the frustration of many.

 “We will not allow our land to be taken in this manner, especially after we have invested our money in it,” he said. The residents have appealed to the central government to urgently intervene, provide clear explanations regarding the wetland boundaries, and offer fair compensation if any relocation is deemed necessary.

The protesters emphasized that previous official plans for Katosi identified only one wetland area in Kisakombe, raising questions about why additional land is now being suddenly marked.

Meanwhile   Katosi Police ASP Peter Muhire called for calm and urged the public to respect environmental regulations.

 “The public should stay away from the lakeshores and wetlands,” Muhire said, adding that compliance would assist authorities in managing the situation.

Local political leaders have joined the residents in condemning NEMA’s approach.  Robert Maseruka the area Member of Parliament, Mbongo Wanyama, Chairperson of Katosi Town Council, and Nathan Wampi the District Councilor, described the sudden demarcation as improper.

They argued that authorities should have first conducted comprehensive sensitization exercises before taking such drastic action. The leaders have asked the Town Council Chairperson to urgently organize a meeting with technical experts to clarify the situation and inform residents of the next steps.

The standoff highlights the delicate balance between environmental conservation and the livelihood needs of communities living along Uganda’s lake shores. As NEMA’s investigations continue, residents remain resolute in their demand for transparency and protection of their property rights.

This developing story is being closely monitored, with calls growing for high-level government intervention to prevent potential conflict and resolve the boundary disputes amicably.