Summary:

• Dr. Akankwasah Barirega, NEMA’s Executive Director, responded to claims that the poor were unfairly targeted during the Lubigi wetland restoration. He clarified that the poor are a minority in Uganda and argued that those harming the environment are not truly destitute.

Dr. Akankwasah Barirega, the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has addressed claims that the authority disproportionately targeted the poor during the Lubigi wetland restoration efforts.

In an interview with this publication, Dr. Barirega explained that while the poor are a minority in Uganda, they are often unfairly associated with environmental destruction. He pointed out that those who are labeled as poor and involved in wetland degradation are not truly destitute, as a truly impoverished person would lack the means to build in a wetland. He also emphasized that environmental protection is crucial for all members of society.

“Let’s not use poverty as an excuse to harm the environment,” he stated.

These comments were made during a meeting with editors and journalists at Hotel 360 in Ndejje-Namasuba on Thursday, where the focus was on reporting wetland degradation and waste management.