NEMA Breaks Silence On Parliamentary Sacco Buying Wetland.

The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has broken its silence on Parliamentary SACCO buying land that is partially located in Wetlands.

Spyreports over the weekend broke a story on how Parliamentary Sacco was on spot for Encroaching on wetland. The story went viral and attracted attention of local Newspaper.

During an exclusive interview with NEMA executive Director Dr. Akankwasa Barirega at his office at NEMA house along Jinja Road, he says he was very much shocked to see that the law makers turned to be law breakers. "First of all I was not aware that Parliamentary Sacco bought a land of which part of it is located in a wetland," says Dr. Akankwasa.

He adds that the Law makers know it very well that it is illegal to construct houses in a wetland. NEMA boss further says Parliamentary SACCO never asked a permission to construct in a wetland.

"When I saw the pictures of houses belong to MPs built in wetland, I got shocked because I could not imagine law makers building in wetland," He says. He added that he sent his inspectors on the ground to verify the information.

"My team of inspectors went on the ground and they also got shocked when they found several houses built in wetland," reveals Dr. Akankwasa.

He says NEMA inspectors mapped the land that is located in wetland. "The mapping was done and a technical report will be made and after I will forward to the Speaker of Parliament and from there we shall see the next step," says Akankwasa . He added that the government developed national Policy for conservation and management of wetland resources in 2015 and later issued the National Environment.

"Under the regulations a wetland may be protected on the basis of its biological diversity, ecological importance, landscape and natural heritage," he says.

According to the law, any person found reclaiming or draining wetland or building in it is liable to three months in jail or shs3m or both.

Some of the MPs whom we talked to on condition of anonymity say, Parliamentary SACCO was duped on the price of buying that land.
"During the purchase, there was a blocker who took a big share on that land and the price ended up being hiked, “says one of the MPs.
He added the SACCO also wanted to give out plots located in wetland to its members.
"I was approached to take up the plot but I rejected it after visiting the area. I told the SACCO people that I can't built in a wetland because am not a flog," says the legislator adding that in their Ankole Culture only flogs live in water but not people.

The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has broken its silence on Parliamentary SACCO buying land that is partially located in Wetlands.

Spyreports over the weekend broke a story on how Parliamentary Sacco was on spot for Encroaching on wetland. The story went viral and attracted attention of local Newspaper.

During an exclusive interview with NEMA executive Director Dr. Akankwasa Barirega at his office at NEMA house along Jinja Road, he says he was very much shocked to see that the law makers turned to be law breakers. "First of all I was not aware that Parliamentary Sacco bought a land of which part of it is located in a wetland," says Dr. Akankwasa.

He adds that the Law makers know it very well that it is illegal to construct houses in a wetland. NEMA boss further says Parliamentary SACCO never asked a permission to construct in a wetland.

"When I saw the pictures of houses belong to MPs built in wetland, I got shocked because I could not imagine law makers building in wetland," He says. He added that he sent his inspectors on the ground to verify the information.

"My team of inspectors went on the ground and they also got shocked when they found several houses built in wetland," reveals Dr. Akankwasa.

He says NEMA inspectors mapped the land that is located in wetland. "The mapping was done and a technical report will be made and after I will forward to the Speaker of Parliament and from there we shall see the next step," says Akankwasa . He added that the government developed national Policy for conservation and management of wetland resources in 2015 and later issued the National Environment.

"Under the regulations a wetland may be protected on the basis of its biological diversity, ecological importance, landscape and natural heritage," he says.

According to the law, any person found reclaiming or draining wetland or building in it is liable to three months in jail or shs3m or both.

Some of the MPs whom we talked to on condition of anonymity say, Parliamentary SACCO was duped on the price of buying that land.
"During the purchase, there was a blocker who took a big share on that land and the price ended up being hiked, “says one of the MPs.
He added the SACCO also wanted to give out plots located in wetland to its members.
"I was approached to take up the plot but I rejected it after visiting the area. I told the SACCO people that I can't built in a wetland because am not a flog," says the legislator adding that in their Ankole Culture only flogs live in water but not people.

The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has broken its silence on Parliamentary SACCO buying land that is partially located in Wetlands.

Spyreports over the weekend broke a story on how Parliamentary Sacco was on spot for Encroaching on wetland. The story went viral and attracted attention of local Newspaper.

During an exclusive interview with NEMA executive Director Dr. Akankwasa Barirega at his office at NEMA house along Jinja Road, he says he was very much shocked to see that the law makers turned to be law breakers. "First of all I was not aware that Parliamentary Sacco bought a land of which part of it is located in a wetland," says Dr. Akankwasa.

He adds that the Law makers know it very well that it is illegal to construct houses in a wetland. NEMA boss further says Parliamentary SACCO never asked a permission to construct in a wetland.

"When I saw the pictures of houses belong to MPs built in wetland, I got shocked because I could not imagine law makers building in wetland," He says. He added that he sent his inspectors on the ground to verify the information.

"My team of inspectors went on the ground and they also got shocked when they found several houses built in wetland," reveals Dr. Akankwasa.

He says NEMA inspectors mapped the land that is located in wetland. "The mapping was done and a technical report will be made and after I will forward to the Speaker of Parliament and from there we shall see the next step," says Akankwasa . He added that the government developed national Policy for conservation and management of wetland resources in 2015 and later issued the National Environment.

"Under the regulations a wetland may be protected on the basis of its biological diversity, ecological importance, landscape and natural heritage," he says.

According to the law, any person found reclaiming or draining wetland or building in it is liable to three months in jail or shs3m or both.

Some of the MPs whom we talked to on condition of anonymity say, Parliamentary SACCO was duped on the price of buying that land.
"During the purchase, there was a blocker who took a big share on that land and the price ended up being hiked, “says one of the MPs.
He added the SACCO also wanted to give out plots located in wetland to its members.
"I was approached to take up the plot but I rejected it after visiting the area. I told the SACCO people that I can't built in a wetland because am not a flog," says the legislator adding that in their Ankole Culture only flogs live in water but not people.