Eight Arrested Over Lwera Wetland Protest

A peaceful demonstration held today outside the offices of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has resulted in the arrest of eight protesters, six men and two women who are currently being held at Central Police Station (CPS) in Kampala.

The protest, led by residents from communities surrounding Lwera Wetland, along with environmental defenders and civil society organizations, was aimed at delivering a petition to NEMA.

The petition expresses deep frustration and anger over what the group describes as the continued degradation and encroachment on Lwera Wetland one of Uganda’s most ecologically critical ecosystems.

“Lwera was once a wetland,” one protester said. “Now it’s a construction site. We are losing our land, our water, our heritage and nobody is listening.”

Lwera Wetland which stretches approximately 20 kilometers along the Masaka Highway and covers about 1,000 hectares, was once a vibrant ecosystem. It served not only as a natural filter for pollutants entering Lake Victoria, but also as a flood control system, cultural landmark, and habitat for diverse plant, bird, and animal species.

Today, locals say the landscape has been transformed into a warzone of sand mining, rice plantations, bulldozers, and dump trucks. What used to be a sanctuary for biodiversity is now being choked to death by industrial activity, with severe consequences for surrounding communities.

“This is not just environmental destruction,” the petition states. “It is a violation of human rights.”

According to the petitioners, much of the activities in Lwera are being ignored by NEMA, the very body tasked with protecting Uganda’s environment.

The petition points to alleged illegal licenses issued to both local and foreign investors, including companies linked to Chinese interests. It also accuses NEMA of practicing double standards swiftly evicting poor citizens from places like Lusanja swamp in Wakiso, while allowing well-connected companies to continue operating inside protected wetlands.

In 2019, President Museveni publicly ordered the eviction of rice farmers from wetlands, including Lwera. Yet, petitioners say these orders have largely been ignored.

“If NEMA can evict vulnerable communities in Wakiso,” said a civil society leader, “why not stop the sand mining and rice farming in Lwera? The law must apply to everyone.”

As Uganda enters the rainy season, the effects of wetland destruction are already being felt. The communities living around Lwera report increased flooding, loss of grazing land, destroyed gardens, and contaminated water sources.

Heavy machinery and the use of agrochemicals in rice farming have polluted streams and groundwater, threatening both human health and animal life. The ecosystem, once a balance of water flow and life, is collapsing with real consequences for food security and public health.

“Our animals are dying. Our children are drinking dirty water. We are losing everything,” said one elderly resident. “And still, NEMA says nothing.”

The petitioners argue that what is happening in Lwera is not just an environmental disaster, but a national emergency. They accuse the government of violating international treaties like the Ramsar Convention, which Uganda is party to, by allowing wetland degradation at this scale.

They also raise concerns about corruption, political protection, and impunity where small-scale offenders are punished while large, powerful actors continue destroying critical ecosystems with state protection.

In their letter, the protestors outline five key demands to NEMA and the Government of Uganda including immediately halt of all sand mining and rice farming activities in Lwera, cancelling of all permits already issued for operations within the wetland, revoking of land titles granted within Lwera Wetland boundaries.

Holding consultations with locals, leaders, environmentalists, and civil society to plan ecological restoration, conducting a full environmental audit and launching investigations into corrupt officials and investors, prosecuting those found guilty.

Despite the arrests and growing despair, the protesters remain hopeful that their voices will be heard.

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