By Mulengera Reporters
Licenses of colossal rice growers and sand miners in Uganda will not be renewed once they expire, authorities reveal. Large-scale rice cultivators and sand miners mainly operate within wetland areas in the eastern and central regions.
These include: Kibimba Rice Scheme (Bugiri district), Doho Rice Scheme (Butaleja District), and Rice Cultivation in Lwera Wetland (Central Uganda). Kibimba operates 3,900 hectres estate. The Doho Rice Scheme spans approximately 2,500 hectares, and the Lwera wetland stretches along the Kampala-Masaka highway. The practice has faced criticism due to environmental concerns, and has since attracted President Yoweri Museveni’s directive requiring such practices to stop.
Now, the government says it is moving to stop renewals in a bid to address the high levels of unsustainable wetland use. “We are not going to renew the licenses of these large rice growers and sand miners,” David Okurut, the Ag Director, Environment Affairs at the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), said.
Okurut, also the Commissioner in charge of wetlands, was addressing the concerns of the wetland-dependent communities in eastern and southwestern areas, claiming they were being targeted, yet the big degraders are favoured.
He said Ugandans are eligible to use wetlands, but have to follow procedures that include applying for permits. He was quick, however, to note that companies failing to follow the conditions have had their permits cancelled already. He revealed further that over 7000 land titles on wetlands have been cancelled.
“The government is now encouraging sustainable wetland use. Supporting water for production initiatives, irrigation schemes, and fish farming is our focus. We want to build the resilience of communities against climate change,” Okurut adds. He revealed further that the government is designing specialised programs for the communities in Bukedi and Kigezi sub-regions, whose access to wetlands has a historical context. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
