NEMA Halts Kampala Wetland Demolitions for One Month After KCCA Appeal

UgandaToday: NEMA Halts Kampala Wetland Demolitions for One Month After KCCA Appeal

KAMPALA, Uganda – June 6, 2026: The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has temporarily suspended its ongoing demolition and restoration operations in Kampala’s wetlands for one month following a request from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) leadership.

The decision was communicated in a letter dated June 5, 2026, signed by NEMA Executive Director Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, and addressed to the Lord Mayor of Kampala.

Temporary Relief for Wetland Encroachers

According to the letter, KCCA had formally requested NEMA to pause the environmental restoration exercise to allow the city leadership sufficient time to establish an Environment and Natural Resources Committee that will work closely with NEMA in managing environmental conservation efforts within the capital.

Responding to the request, NEMA agreed to suspend active restoration and demolition activities for a period of one month.

“This is to inform you that restoration in Kampala city boundaries will be paused for one month to enable people vacate voluntarily from wetlands and also allow time to constitute the Committee,” the letter reads in part.

The temporary halt is expected to provide affected residents, businesses and developers occupying protected wetland areas an opportunity to relocate voluntarily before enforcement resumes.

Enforcement Activities to Continue

Despite the suspension of demolitions, NEMA clarified that environmental enforcement activities will not entirely cease during the one-month period.

The authority revealed that its teams will continue identifying and mapping new areas of encroachment, issuing Environmental Restoration Orders, and marking structures that have illegally been established within wetlands.

NEMA also emphasized that routine enforcement against fresh encroachment and reoccupation of restored wetlands will continue unabated.

The agency warned that any new developments in protected wetland areas during the suspension period would still face enforcement action.

KCCA Tasked to Mobilize Residents

NEMA has called upon the Lord Mayor and the entire city leadership to use the one-month grace period to sensitize and mobilize all individuals occupying sensitive ecosystems to vacate voluntarily.

The environmental regulator stressed that public cooperation will be crucial in restoring degraded wetlands and achieving a greener and more sustainable Kampala.

“We count on you and the entire leadership of the city to mobilise all people that have encroached on sensitive ecosystems to vacate voluntarily so that we can restore environment and make Kampala a truly green city,” Dr. Akankwasah stated.

Wetland Restoration Remains a National Priority

The temporary suspension comes amid intensified efforts by government agencies to reclaim wetlands across the country, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas such as Kampala where illegal developments have significantly degraded critical ecosystems.

Environmental experts have consistently warned that continued wetland destruction contributes to flooding, loss of biodiversity, water pollution and climate-related vulnerabilities in the city.

While the one-month pause offers temporary relief to affected occupants, NEMA’s latest communication signals that the broader wetland restoration campaign remains firmly on course.

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