CRACKING THE WHIP: Operation Restore Oyam Wetlands Intensfies

By Our Reporter

MINAKULU, Uganda {SHIFT MEDIA} Mid this week we reported in these pages how the Presidential directive to restore wetlands had commenced in Oyam.

On Friday the Resident District Commissioner Oyam Rtd ASP Hope Atuhaire led a team of district officials ad and fisheries, environmental and forestry officers into the field to ascertain the impact of encroachment in Tochi river catchment areas.

Atuhaire noted that the fact finding revealed that not much damage has been done yet, though scores of persons caught within the baffer zones were ordered to harvest their crops and vacate forthwith.

The OC Operations Oyam IP Aisu who represented the DPC said the law would take it’s toll on wetlands encroachers.

One local who had planted eucalyptus trees in Toci wetlands, something that the RDC said was endangering the water catchment areas was ordered to slash them down after the Environmental Focal Person Etot Jimmy measured and discovered that the baffer zone had been penetrated.

Similarly the RDC said those who had planted rice in the wetland would be Monitored closely.