BIG STORY
Ministry of Water and Environment Demarcates Katakwi Wetlands
By Emmanuel Okol
KATAKWI
In an effort to save wetlands from encroachment and restore their splendor after being harmed by rice-growing operations, the Ministry of Water and Environment, in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature, has started a second wetland demarcation project in the three sub counties of Getom, Katakwi, and Palam.
The demarcation exercise was launched on Tuesday 10th September 2024 starting from Getom Sub County.
According to the Katakwi Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Vincent Savior Okwi, wetland encroachment in Katakwi is approximately 90%, which intensifies conflicts between crop and livestock farmers. For this reason, wetland protection is necessary to prevent degrading activities like rice cultivation from endangering wetland ecosystems.
He however, issues a warning against disturbing defined and marked stone areas and threatens to arrest anyone found breaking the law.
Moses Odicar, a resident of Katakwi Sub County, Aliakamer Parish, is happy that the demarcation effort will facilitate livestock farmers’ coexistence and aid in the restoration of the wetlands and surrounding ecosystem over the course of the next five years.
David Eilor Kadongo, LCIII Getom Sub County in Katakwi district while communicating with this website, thanked the Ministry of Water and Environment for its efforts towards restoring wetlands.
“As leaders we need time to sensitize so that locals will understand the importance of restoring wetlands,” Eilor said.
In an effort to battle climate change, Simon Okello, the district environment officer for Katakwi, has made a plea to the locals to respect the wetland regions and engage in wetland protection initiatives.
Okello listed practices that help preserve wetland areas, like fish, aquaculture and the production of veggies like tomatoes and cabbages.
Residents have been warned by the wetland demarcation partner, Worldwide Fund for Nature, to protect the wetlands by substituting other activities for rice farming.
Land delineation, according to Augustine Opolot, coordinator of Worldwide Fund for Nature, will benefit wetlands and make land surveys easier because wetlands will be taken into account.
Katakwi District Chairperson, Geoffrey Omolo partly attributed the encroachment to political interference, accusing some area leaders of encouraging people to stay in wetlands for political capital.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the livelihood alternatives provided are effective and sustainable, as many farmers are hesitant to leave wetlands due to the inadequacy of current options.
Omolo stressed that if wetlands are restored many individuals from different communities will benefit from it.
As restoration efforts move forward, authorities must act swiftly to protect reclaimed wetlands and prevent further setbacks.
However, over 64% of Uganda’s wetland has been depleted or encroached upon. Despite the challenges there are ongoing efforts to conserve the wetlands. On February 2 2024, the government officially gazetted all 8,613 wetlands in the country.