Ibanda Wetland Degraders Commit to Remediation by April 2025
Two individuals responsible for the degradation of the Kirimirire wetland along the Ibanda-Mbarara road have pledged to remove all illegally dumped soil by April 1, 2025 or face arrest. This commitment came during a recent meeting convened by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), District Police Commander (DPC), Mayor, town clerk, District Internal Security Officer (DISO) and environmental officers.
The individuals involved in the degradation are Muzamiru Bateyo and Godwin Tusiime along with his wife Mary Birungi. They are accused of avoiding legal repercussions despite their actions having severely impacted the wetland’s ecosystem. The RDC expressed frustration over the situation emphasizing the need for adherence to the president’s directives regarding wetland conservation.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that all wetlands are restored at all costs,” the RDC stated, reinforcing the government’s commitment to environmental protection.
The Ibanda Municipality town clerk, Authman Ssebaduka criticized the slow response from municipal teams regarding enforcement calling for more decisive action to address environmental violations.
Ibanda municipal council’s environment officer, Robert Tumwesigye highlighted lack of consultation by developers with the technical team pointing out the need for greater awareness and adherence to environmental regulations.
In support of the restoration efforts, the Deputy Mayor of Ibanda Municipality assured the community that the office of the mayor will work closely with the town clerk to facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded wetlands.
During the meeting, Muzamiru Bateyo apologized for his actions attributing them to lack of technical guidance and expressed his intention to cooperate with authorities in rectifying the situation. Meanwhile, Godwin Tusiime and Mary Birungi, represented by their associate Mr. James Ariho, also committed to fulfilling the directive to remove the soil by the established deadline acknowledging the potential consequences of non-compliance.
