At least three people have been arrested during a National Environment Management Authority operation in Lubigi Wetland.
NEMA spokesperson William Lubuulwa confirmed the arrests on Wednesday. He said the suspects, two women and one man, are being held at Lubigi Police Station.
He added that authorities will pick them from the station and take them to court.
“We thought our people had understood why they had been asked to leave. Our visit was to reask them to vacate this place,” Mr Lubuulwa said.
Families Ordered to Leave Wetland
During the operation, officials found several people who had returned to the wetland after earlier evictions.
Some had erected makeshift tents after NEMA demolished their houses in previous operations. Officials ordered them to pull down the temporary structures.
Mr Lubuulwa said at least 15 families had returned to the wetland. He said all of them were instructed to remove their belongings.
Evicted Residents Seek Shelter
Mr Vincent Iruumba, a traditional healer whose house was demolished, said he has been living in an abandoned container with his seven children.
He said he has not yet found another place to stay.
“My village is in Kibaale District in Bunyoro Sub region but I don’t have transport,” he said.
Mr Iruumba said he used the Shs1 million relief money donated by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during her recent visit to pay school fees for his children.
“We are relying on well wishers to get what to eat. I’m removing my property but still I will stay on streets as I wait for my children to come back from school,” Mr Iruumba added.
NUP Supporter Appeals for Help
Mr Ivan Balubinzi, a National Unity Platform supporter, said officials had earlier mapped one of his structures for demolition but left it standing during the last operation.
He said he was surprised when officials returned and asked him to remove it.
“My house was demolished and I remained with this temporary structure where I was operating a bar,” he said.
Mr Balubinzi said the same bar also served as a self-created office for NUP supporters in the area.
He appealed to the party’s top executive to come to his rescue.