NEMA Cracks Down on Illegal Sand Mining in Lwera Wetland Amid Longstanding Conservation Dispute
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), together with the Ministry of Water and Environment, has intensified enforcement against illegal sand mining in the fragile Lwera Wetland, conducting a multi-agency operation that resulted in the impoundment of heavy machinery, demobilisation of illegal mining equipment, and ongoing investigations into suspected environmental violations.
The operation, carried out jointly with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), the Environmental Protection Police Unit (EPPU), the Environmental Protection Force (EPF), and Kalungu District Local Government, targeted four sites along the Kampala–Masaka Highway, an area that has faced growing environmental degradation from unregulated sand extraction.
At Jamarsco Group of Companies in Ntizi Village, Mpigi District, authorities found the company operating with an expired Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate. Enforcement officers impounded three Sino trucks and one wheel loader pending further action.
In nearby Muge Village, Mpigi District, officials dismantled operations by artisanal miners, demobilising 30 canoes that had been used for illegal sand mining within the wetland ecosystem.
The enforcement team also visited Fuso–Sino International Co. Ltd in Kalungu District, where workers reportedly fled after receiving information about the impending operation. Authorities discovered two wheel loaders concealed in nearby bushes and found a dredger at the site. Investigations into the company's activities are ongoing.
Meanwhile, in Kamaliba Village, Mpigi District, Mr. Adams Nseroko was summoned to NEMA to verify whether his activities in the wetland qualify as legitimate fish farming or violate environmental regulations.
The latest crackdown comes against the backdrop of years of public concern over the degradation of the Lwera Wetland, one of Uganda's most important wetland ecosystems. Environmental activists have repeatedly accused authorities of failing to stop destructive activities, particularly large-scale rice cultivation and illegal resource extraction.
In October 2025, eight environmental defenders were arrested while peacefully protesting the continued destruction of the wetland. The activists had demanded that NEMA revoke permits issued to companies cultivating rice within protected sections of Lwera, arguing that the activities were accelerating wetland loss and undermining ecosystem services.
Their arrest drew criticism from conservation groups and human rights advocates, who called for their immediate release and protection of environmental defenders.
Today's enforcement operation is likely to renew debate over the consistency of environmental law enforcement, with conservationists expected to welcome the action while urging authorities to ensure that all illegal activities—regardless of the individuals or companies involved—are addressed without selective enforcement.
Lwera Wetland plays a critical role in flood control, water purification, biodiversity conservation, fisheries, and climate resilience. Environmental experts warn that "continued degradation could have severe ecological and socio-economic consequences for surrounding communities and the wider Lake Victoria basin."
