Uganda Law Society Moves to Sue Over Wetland Demolitions

By Skika Reporter.

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has launched a legal intervention aimed at helping victims of ongoing wetland evictions seek compensation and challenge what it describes as unlawful demolitions carried out without court orders.

The move comes amid growing complaints from residents whose homes have been demolished during the government’s nationwide wetland restoration campaign led by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

ULS Treasurer Arthur Isiko said the legal body has begun collecting evidence from affected residents to support potential court action against authorities involved in the demolitions.

“We have come to give free legal advice. We have come to understand the grievances of the people, their challenges, and assist them in courts of law,” Mr Isiko said while meeting victims of the Lubigi wetland evictions on Wednesday.

According to Mr Isiko, ULS will gather land purchase agreements, ownership documents and other evidence from victims before filing legal cases seeking compensation for destroyed property.

He argued that the Constitution protects citizens from arbitrary destruction of property and that demolitions should only be conducted following due legal process.

“We all know that the Constitution of Uganda says that no person’s property shall be destroyed unless there’s a court order,” he said.

The legal intervention follows complaints by residents of Buggu Village in Busabala Parish, Wakiso District, who accuse Nema of carrying out surprise evictions without adequate notice.

Affected residents claim that during a meeting held at Busabala Playground last month, officials from Nema, the Ministry of Water and Environment and local leaders agreed to return on June 19 for wetland demarcation exercises.

However, residents say they were shocked when enforcement officers arrived on June 2 and ordered occupants to vacate immediately.

The operation triggered panic as families scrambled to salvage household belongings, including furniture, mattresses, roofing materials and livestock before demolition crews moved in.

Several residents now face uncertainty over where they will relocate.

Mr Ivan Ssentongo, one of the affected residents, said many families had invested heavily in the area and were unprepared for the abrupt enforcement exercise.

“We are going to sleep outside. I have spent more than seven years here; how can Nema just enforce the eviction before the demarcations? We feel betrayed,” he said.

The evictions have also attracted political attention, with Makindye-Ssabagabo Member of Parliament David Sserukenya calling on Nema to suspend the exercise and honour commitments allegedly made during previous engagements with residents.

Mr Sserukenya argued that government agencies should prioritise preventing illegal construction in wetlands before developments occur instead of waiting until residents have completed building projects.

“People had gone to work when Nema held the operation, leaving properties destroyed,” he said.

However, Nema has defended the enforcement exercise, insisting that affected occupants had received warnings long before the demolitions commenced.

Nema communications officer William Lubuulwa said the agency had been directing wetland occupants to vacate since 2024 but many had ignored the notices.

“I don’t want to speak on behalf of the locals. I don’t think Nema was part of the locals during the meeting. If you say Nema was part of the meeting, this must have been the agreed action,” Mr Lubuulwa said.

As demolitions continue across various parts of the country, the legal challenge being prepared by ULS could test the balance between environmental protection efforts and the constitutional rights of citizens affected by wetland restoration programmes.

The outcome may also determine whether hundreds of families displaced by the exercise are entitled to compensation for lost property and investments.