{UAH} Ministers Support Wetland destruction - Natives can go to Hell

The ministry of Lands has been instructed to cancel all land titles in wetlands, the Information minister announced yesterday. Rose Namayanja told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre that the directive would start with Kampala city.

"Planning authorities have continued to demarcate and allocate plots for development in wetlands, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution," the minister said.

Section 36 of the National Environment Act provides for protection of wetlands and prohibits any person from reclaiming, erecting or demolishing any structure that is fixed in, on, under or over any wetland.

The ministry has also been asked to cancel all titles on public land acquired unlawfully after 1995. But, those issued before 1995 may be surrendered by leaseholders to government under compensatory arrangements. Land titles on critical ecosystems especially those on the 200 metre lakeshore protection zone also face cancellation.

"Even land titles that were approved by controlling body authorities such as Nema, [and] KCCA should be declared vanquished and cancelled," Namayanja emphasised.

The degraded wetlands whose ecological functions are recoverable will be restored but land titles issued therein be cancelled. Namayanja cautioned the ministry to be non-discriminatory while executing this directive.

Environmental impact assessment certificates for wetlands, especially those along Lake Victoria shore land, will also be cancelled. Namayanja said government would not be obliged to pay compensation for developments by the holders of the illegal titles.

Last month, Cabinet was divided over a proposal to cancel the land titles which were issued in areas covering wetlands in various parts of the country. Sources said that some had earlier opposed the proposal since some ministers were likely to fall victim.

http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31431&Itemid=114
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Bwanika Nakyesawa Luwero