Bobi Wine Condemns NEMA for Double Standards

National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine has demanded that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) wetland restoration drive be also directed against the wealthy that have settled in wetlands.

Bobi Wine’s demands come hardly a week after NEMA demolished houses in Lubigi Wetland. This exercise saw families in Ganda-Nasere village, Wakiso Subcounty in Wakiso District lose their homes.

“I have been following with shock and concern the ongoing demolition of low-income earners’ houses in Nansana-Lubigi ostensibly “because they were built in a wetland”.” – Robert Kyagulanyi.

Bobi Wine says that thousands of the victims had stayed in the wetland fora number of decades. The NUP leader went on to say that this was a no confidence in NEMA for allowing them to settle in the first place.

However, he was compassionate to the victims saying NEMA needed to first warn them before embarking on such a project.

Through his lengthy post on social media platform X formerly Twitter, Bobi Wine acknowledged that importance of protecting the environment.

He highlighted the impact of climate change and global warming as motivation to keep the wetlands intact.

However, according to the for Kyadondo East MP, NEMA’s noble cause ceases to make sense when they single out homes of the poor for demolition.

NEMA has been on the spot since the demolitions for seemingly turning a blind eye to factories and petrol stations in the same wetland.

Bobi Wine blames this on the impunity propagated by the NRM government that let’s its supporters and wealthy off the hook.

“There are several hotels, factories and homes constructed in wetlands such as the one along Yusuf Lule Road, Busega, Namanve and elsewhere.” – Bobi Wine.

However, the displaced families blame the officials from Buganda Kingdom for hoodwinked them into settling in the wetland.

These residents say they have been paying ground rent also known as Busulu to the Buganda Land Board.

“These glaring contradictions in how the regime handles the poor, on one hand, and the rich, on the other hand, should jolt all of us into action to work harder for a country that will truly guarantee equal rights and treatment for al under the law.” Bobi Wine