Lwera under siege: Sand miners, rice farmers fuel environmental collapse

Located just 20 kilometers from Mpigi to Kalungu district in Central Uganda, the Lwera stretch along the Kampala-Masaka highway was once a haven of natural beauty and ecological importance.

However, this once-vibrant eco-system now faces severe degradation due to relentless exploitation by sand miners and large-scale Chinese rice growers, leading to environmental and climate disruptions. The highway, previously a symbol of seamless connectivity and a main gateway to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is now marred by the scars of exploitation.

The road is fractured, its surface pock-marked with chasms and craters that complicate travel. In this area, sand miners operate with audacious impunity. Using sophisticated dredgers that are formidable in both strength and reach, they descend upon the wetland, extracting the earth beneath the asphalt and undermining the road’s foundation.

These machines can harvest sand from astonishing distances, leaving behind compromised infrastructure. The Observer conducted an investigation into the dangerous human activities threatening the wetland with extinction and risking an environmental catastrophe for Uganda.

Our inquiries revealed an intricate web of conspiracy, widespread fraud, corruption, and impunity, allegedly orchestrated by high-ranking government officials. Current laws permit the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to authorize ecologically friendly activities.

This has attracted various investors, including companies and individuals, who engage in activities such as sand mining, fish farming, and crop cultivation. Consequently, Nema has issued renewable certificates to several companies for operation within the wetland.

Although the regulator officially recognizes only three sanctioned operators, our investigations disclosed the presence of more, including Ark Uganda Limited (owned by Pastor Samuel Kakande), Freedom Multi Company, Zhong Industries Ltd, Double Q Co. Ltd, Seroma Ltd, Parkson Hongkong Investments, and others.

Environmentalists have expressed concerns about the ecological impact of sand mining and rice cultivation in the wetland. Additionally, some of the land within the stretch falls under Mailo land tenure, with individuals like John Ssebalamu holding valid titles. Our investigation found that some government officials have conspired to sell portions of the wetland.

Specifically, a 2017 investigation by the Lands Commission, led by Justice Catherine Bamugemeire, revealed that one of the titles, covering a square mile of the wetland in Lwera, was sold by then minister of Agriculture Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja to John Ssebalamu. Ssebalamu told the commission that he had purchased two square miles of wetland in 2010, one each in Mpigi and Kalungu, from the late Mayanja Nkangi, former chairman of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC), and Ssempijja, respectively.

Matia Lwanga Bwanika, the LCV chairperson for Wakiso district and a renowned environmental conservationist, emphasized this in an interview. He noted that in 2010, the Lwera area fell under Greater Masaka, as the Kalungu district had not yet been established. Bwanika explained that Ssempijja, who served as the LCV chairman for Masaka at the time, collaborated with the late Mayanja Nkangi of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) to issue numerous land titles within the wetland, which they later sold to various individuals.

“During Mayanja Nkangi’s tenure, the Uganda Land Commission, given the expansive nature of Greater Masaka, oversaw the allocation of that entire area. Ssempijja and Nkangi made titles within the Lwera wetland and then sold them,” Bwanika confirmed.

DANGERS OF ENCROACHMENT ON LWERA WETLAND

The encroachment not only weakens the resilience of the wetland but also exacerbates climate change scenarios such as flooding. This is due to the mass felling of wetland cover and the destruction of a natural habitat vital for numerous bird species. The impact further extends to negatively affecting tourism as Lwera wetland’s attractiveness wanes.

Achilles Byaruhanga, the executive director for Nature Uganda and recipient of the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, concurred. He highlighted that the degradation of the wetland negatively impacts the local climate and poses a significant threat to Uganda’s tourism industry.

“You can’t promote tourism in Lwera wetland when the very elements that attract tourists are being destroyed,” Byaruhanga argued.

We spoke to a bird deterrent specialist, known only as Herman, from Zhong Industries Ltd, a Chinese-owned rice cultivation enterprise operating near Lukaya town council. He admitted that the chemicals used a few years ago to eliminate weeds and pests in rice plantations inadvertently killed fish and polluted the water, endangering aquatic life.

Byaruhanga further elucidated that the flooding of the Katonga river earlier this year, which led to a bridge’s collapse, was connected to activities like sand mining and rice cultivation. He explained that the Katonga river plays a crucial role in the natural flow of water, and when this flow is obstructed, water accumulates and gains force, resulting in destructive consequences downstream.

HOW LWERA WETLAND CAN BE UTILIZED SUSTAINABLY

Prof. Frank Kansiime, senior lecturer at Makerere University, underscored the importance of responsible wetland farming practices to preserve the natural ecosystem, particularly when farming near the edges of wetlands. Similarly, Byaruhanga promoted ecologically sustainable approaches such as fish farming within wetlands.

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) recommends advancing technology and sharing knowledge to encourage the adoption of integrated agricultural practices. These practices, endorsed by the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF Uganda), include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, permaculture, agroforestry, paludiculture, and other low-input farming systems.

LOCAL LEADERS ALLEGE STATE OFFICIALS’ COMPLICITY

Local leaders in the Lwera area expressed frustration at the government for its inadequate efforts to protect a wetland facing threats of extinction. Francis Buye, the LCIII chairman for Nkozi sub-county in Mpigi district, argued that the government should demonstrate tangible actions to conserve vital wetlands, thereby encouraging citizen participation.

“You cannot expect people to love their country when leaders are engaging in activities that harm nature, like the destruction of wetlands,” Buye said.

He disclosed a disturbing fact: affluent Chinese sand miners allegedly bribe influential figures in the government, particularly in security agencies, to gain protection. Kasule Zedd, the mayor for Kayabwe town council in Mpigi district, concurred with Buye. He noted that individuals heavily involved in sand extraction wield considerable influence, making it challenging for local authorities to intervene.

“Heavily laden Sinotrucks traverse our roads in numbers exceeding 600 in just 24 hours, contributing to further degradation of an already weakened infrastructure,” he revealed.

Stephen Ntege, the secretary to Kasule Zedd, cited an incident when the LCV chairperson for Mpigi district, Martin Ssejjemba, took action against sand mining companies. Despite this, their operations resumed the next day, allegedly with backing from influential state figures.

OFFICIAL RESPONSES

Ssempala Kigozi, the resident district commissioner (RDC) for Mpigi, stated that the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) overrides his jurisdiction by issuing operating licenses to sand miners.

“Our hands are tied. Nema licenses these activities, and so even if we attempt enforcement, we’re shown approvals from Nema,” remarked Ssempala.

Matia Lwanga Bwanika expressed a similar sentiment, attributing the persistent encroachment on Lwera wetland to a crisis in governance, rooted in lack of political will, corruption, and failure by top-tier government officials to appreciate environmental concerns.

“People engaging in these activities have connections with influential figures. Nema, unfortunately, is part of the problem,” Lwanga Bwanika further asserted.

VIABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

Doreen Nakirya, an environmental consultant based in Kampala, emphasized that impact assessments should not authorize activities that could harm wetland ecosystems. She insisted that a thorough, unbiased assessment is crucial to determine whether a proposed activity would have detrimental effects on the environment.

“Any impartial assessment would not permit extensive sand mining in a wetland of ecological significance. When we talk about environmental impact assessments, the goal is to determine the impact of a proposed activity on the environment,” Nakirya stated.

She further raised questions about the thoroughness of the studies conducted before activities in the wetlands were approved.

“Ultimately, if an independent assessor conducts a study, it falls on Nema to approve it based on their own assessment. Questions remain about whether these activities were rigorously studied before receiving approval,” she added.

Nakirya’s views align with those of Matia Lwanga Bwanika, who argued that the process of granting certificates for wetland operations is fraught with mass fraud.

REACTIONS FROM NEMA

William Lubuulwa, the senior public relations officer for Nema, told The Observer that the agency stopped issuing new licenses for wetland operations in September 2021, complying with a presidential directive. He added that most existing licenses will not be renewed.

“Lwera had about five operators conducting sand mining; while they had operational licenses, most are now expiring. Only two remain, and these will also expire within a year,” Lubuulwa confirmed.

His statements are consistent with those of Dr Akankwasah Barirega, the executive director for Nema. He disclosed that the agency would not renew any sand mining licenses in the wetland and is looking into measures to discontinue the operations of rice growers who have obtained land titles there.

DISTRICT-LEVEL PERSPECTIVES

Tony Gordon Mwidyeki, the district natural resources officer (DNRO) for Mpigi, noted that while only three sand mining operations are officially recognized, unauthorized individuals are also participating.

“These individuals exploit the insufficient monitoring of the wetland, a situation exacerbated by logistical limitations,” he said.
“Routine compliance monitoring could solve the issue of wetland encroachment. The challenge is that the department responsible for this has a limited budget and currently lacks a motor vehicle,” Mwidyeki added.

Despite challenges and resistance, the determination to protect Lwera wetland remains steadfast, highlighting the resilience of those committed to its preservation amidst stories of deceit and destruction. The battle for Lwera’s survival stands as a testament to this commitment.