Three women environmental activists Nduhukire Angera and two others were arrested yesterday after organising a protest against the destruction of Lwera wetland a critical ecosystem along the Kampala-Masaka highway.
The arrests come amid escalating tensions between local conservationists, Chinese rice farmers and sand miners whose activities have turned the once-thriving wetland into a battleground over climate resilience, food security and corporate exploitation.
The women, led by Nduhukire Angera, were taken into custody in what many see as a worrying escalation in Uganda’s environmental justice battle.
Lwera Wetland once a lush, thriving ecosystem that serves as a fish breeding ground, carbon sink and bird migration stopover is being choked under the weight of unregulated sand mining and rice farming operations linked to Chinese investors.
For years, activists have raised red flags about the ecological consequences but their cries have largely been drowned out by big money and political silence.
“These women weren’t just shouting slogans in the street,” said a member of the Women Natural Resources Action Initiative (WNRAI), the group to which the arrested activists belong. “They were sitting down, planning how to save an ecosystem that provides life and water to millions. And for that they are behind bars.”
The arrest of Nduhukire Angera and her two colleagues marks the latest chapter in a larger environmental struggle gripping Uganda.
Activists say Lwera is more than just a wetland it’s a lifeline. It filters water before it pours into Lake Victoria, stores carbon dioxide underground, and plays a critical role in the climate balance of the region. Destroying it, they argue, is akin to setting fire to the future.
Last year, several protesters in Kampala were also detained during a similar demonstration against Lwera’s degradation. But this time, it’s women at the center of the storm.
WNRAI which has also advocated for the land rights of Batwa women and other marginalized groups says the level of resistance they’re now facing over Lwera is unprecedented.
“We’ve been on many frontlines but this one hit different. It feels like we’ve touched a nerve. Lwera is special,” the group’s spokesperson noted.
What makes this even more controversial is the shadow cast by Chinese agribusiness investments in the wetland.
While these ventures bring in capital, they are widely criticized for displacing local communities, draining the ecosystem and operating with questionable legal permits.
The Uganda police have not yet issued a formal statement regarding the charges against the three women.
Meanwhile, civil society groups are calling for their immediate release and have vowed to amplify the “Save Lwera” campaign louder than ever.
“This isn’t just about Lwera,” said another activist. “It’s about justice, freedom of expression, and protecting the environment for the next generation. We’re not backing down.”
