Ibanda Security Committee Orders Nyabuhikye Farm to Halt Cultivation in Nyabukurungo Wetland
The Ibanda District Security Committee, chaired by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Mbetegyerize recently held an engagement meeting with the administration of Nyabuhikye Government Prisons Farm. The meeting concluded with a recommendation that the farm immediately ceases all cultivation activities in the buffer zone of R. Nyabukurungo.
Held at the Nyabuhikye Prisons Farm, the meeting addressed growing public and leadership concerns regarding environmental degradation linked to the farm’s agricultural practices. It was agreed that after the harvest expected in February 2025, there will be no further cultivation in the protected wetland area surrounding the river.
Nyabuhikye Government Prisons Farm is situated in Kayenje Ward, Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality, alongside the Mbarara-Ibanda highway.
RDC Mbetegyerize emphasized that the government is acting on the directive of the President, who has mandated that individuals and institutions operating within wetlands must vacate peacefully or face potential eviction without compensation. He highlighted that the erratic weather conditions currently affecting the western region are largely due to human encroachment on natural resources and he urged an immediate cessation of these harmful practices which are often the result of ignorance or negligence.
Robert Tumwesigye, the Senior Environment Officer for Ibanda Municipality instructed the Nyabuhikye Government Prisons Farm administration to plant recommended trees or pastures as a means of restoring the degraded Nyabukurungo wetland.
Elly Kirya, the Ibanda District Natural Resources Officer pointed out that Section 36 of the National Environment Act prioritizes the protection of wetlands and prohibits reclamation and the construction of illegal structures. This law empowers authorities to demolish any unauthorized structures located within wetland areas. He further explained that the Act enables districts to manage wetlands within their jurisdictions and to clearly demarcate their boundaries, ensuring that communities understand where the wetland limits lie, even as water levels and vegetation fluctuate.
In response, Patience Nambuya, the Deputy Officer in Charge of Nyabuhikye Government Prisons Farm stated that their commitment to following the guidelines and directives to safeguard vital ecosystems and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
