Gov’t Compensates Sheema Wetland evictees with Livestock
SHEEMA: Over 200 people evicted from gazetted wetlands in sheema district have received live stock as a compensation to boost their household income.
During the event held on Thursday at the district headquarters, domestic animals including; 10 Cows, 150 piglets and 1280 chicks were officially handed to beneficiaries.
The most affected people were from areas of Kigarama, Shuku, Kyangyenyi, Kitagata Sub Counties, Kakindo Town council, among others who were forcibly removed from gazetted wetlands.
Speaking at the distribution event, RDC Fred Nayebare kyamuzigita charged beneficiaries to make use of the of the product to avoid regretting their eviction from the wetlands.
“Men please do not get attempted to use these cattles to marry second wives or paying bride price. Concentrate on improving and multiplying them so that you don’t regret why you were evicted from wetlands” said Kyamuzigita.
The RDC assured benefitiaries that the cattle breed supplied is tick resistant, suitable for the local areas and further called upon the responsible officials from the district to keep monitoring and inspecting the progress of the projects.
The Sheema District boss Jemima Buhanda commended the public for listening to the government call of leaving wetlands since this had earlier affected climate in the area.
She applauded the government in partnership with United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) for prioritizing the needy people who willingly left wetlands.
Patrick Turyatunga Pato, the Sheema District Natural resources officer told this reporter that the directives against wetland encroacher eviction wasn’t easily absorbed by victims but after conducting sensitization meetings, many people agreed with an assurance of getting compensation.
Patrick added that its quite absurd that some elite individuals had earlier spread negative propaganda to victims but both the presidential directive ,sensitization meetings and compensation idea played a vital role in restoring wetlands.
The District Natural resources officer further advised individuals with lands near wetlands to respect the required meters between wetlands and their land to avoid repercussions.
