By KT Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has directed vendors operating in the wetland at Wobulenzi Town along the Kampala–Gulu highway to vacate immediately, citing environmental degradation and illegal settlement. The President issued the directive on Tuesday during a visit to Kikoma village in Wobulenzi, where he interacted with a Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiary.
In 2011, over 200 roadside vendors were resettled to a private piece of land within the wetland after being evicted from the streets to ease traffic and restore order. Since then, the vendors have set up stalls and extensively degraded the wetland area located in Kikoma.
The settlement has attracted criticism from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and environmentalists. Previous eviction attempts were thwarted by resistance, with local leaders backing the vendors. While addressing the President during his visit, LC1 Chairperson Godfrey Ssempagala presented the vendors’ plight, asking for government intervention.
In response, Museveni expressed disappointment that vendors were still operating in the wetland despite his earlier ban on such settlements. He ordered their relocation and instructed National Resistance Movement Deputy Secretary General Rosemary Namayanja to work with local leaders to identify an alternative site, which he promised to purchase for them.
According to NEMA, Uganda’s wetland coverage has drastically declined from about 15.5% in 1994 to approximately 8.4% by 2019. If not reversed through dedicated restoration efforts, it could fall to 1.6% by 2040, posing a serious environmental threat.
During the same visit, Museveni donated 20 million shillings to Damalie Nakayenga, a PDM beneficiary, to expand her poultry and piggery project. Nakayenga narrated how a one-million-shilling loan under PDM enabled her to start her agribusiness, which has grown to 400 chickens and five pigs.
Impressed by her progress, Museveni encouraged residents to embrace the Parish Development Model as a sustainable pathway out of poverty. According to Luwero District officials, the Ministry of Finance has so far released 26 billion shillings under PDM, benefiting 28,039 individuals across 101 parishes.
The President is expected to meet leaders from the Greater Luwero region on Wednesday at Timnah Schools in Luwero Town Council to further rally support for the programme, which he said offers a better alternative to high-interest loans from moneylenders-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
