A joint deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Police brought traffic along the Northern Bypass to a standstill as security forces supported the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in a crackdown on illegal structures in the Lubigi wetland.
By 9:30 a.m., security personnel had sealed off the section of the Northern Bypass between Namungona and Kawala Zone Two to facilitate NEMA’s demolition exercise targeting more than 150 houses and businesses built within the wetland.
Apart from residential houses, several businesses, including furniture workshops, shops, and offices, were also marked for demolition following an eviction notice issued by NEMA in 2024.
At the scene, police and army officers arrested several residents who attempted to protest against the operation.
The situation turned chaotic when heavy graders and tractors arrived and immediately began demolishing structures, with residents reportedly blocked from removing their belongings. Several people were taken into custody as the machinery flattened properties.
NEMA has carried out several large-scale demolition and eviction operations in the Lubigi wetland over the years in a bid to remove illegal structures and restore the swamp.
The most recent and highly publicized exercise was conducted in May and June 2024, when hundreds of structures in Nansana and Busega were demolished following a presidential directive.
Suluiman Ssenyonga, Chairperson of the Rubigi Carpenters in Kawala Zone Two, said residents received eviction notices in 2024 and later challenged the matter in court, demanding compensation for their properties.
He said the case was scheduled for hearing on the 16th of next month, but residents were shocked when NEMA proceeded with the demolition before the court process was concluded.
By Charles Katabalwa
28th May 2026
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