The national environment management Authority (NEMA) has been in the spotlight recently due to numerous evictions of encroachers on wetlands. One of the wetlands that made top highlights was Lubigi wetland in Busega Kampala.
Though the evictions were welcomed by some people, others simply considered it biased given it only affected the poor in the society who do not have enough money to bribe their way through. However, it might be a new dawn given the revocation of an environmental certificate that had been issued to Hoima Sugar Limited.
NEMA has revoked the Environmental social impact assessment certificate that it had issued to Hoima sugar limited over abuse of the terms of operation rendering their contract null and void. According to the Nema executive director, Dr. Barireja Akankwasah; NEMA leased 9 square miles of the Bugoma forest reserve to Hoima sugar to plant sugarcane.
On top of the 9 square miles, 312 hectares were also given to Hoima sugar to develop an urban center. 40 hectares were given to develop a cultural center. NEMA also gave 520 hectares to Hoima sugar limited to develop an ecotourism center. Unfortunately, according to the investigations from NEMA; Hoima Sugar has not lived up to agreed terms.
Dr. Barireja Akankwasah, Hoima Sugar has go further to encroach on the 6 square miles of the forest cover that was reserved as Bugoma forest. With concerns from Bunyoro kingdom, the civil society and the general public; NEMA has revoked the environmental certificate it had issued to Hoima sugar.