Makerere University’s environmental studies don dumps soil in Lake Victoria to reclaim land

By Staff Writer

There is a steaming rage that has resulted into a fierce anxiety among the fishermen around Lake Victoria. This discomfort is reportedly brought about by an individual regarded as environmentalist and a specialist in that field, but residents of Busabala are dismayed by her actions.

Surprisingly, this person is a university Don, who is dumping soil at Busabala in an effort to reclaim land. Definitely, this was a wetland.

Dr Gorette Nsubuga Nabanoga, a senior lecturer at MUK has since mid January, 2021 hired lorry trucks to ferry soil saying the lake swallowed part of her private land at Kolanoga Resort Beach, Busabala. Dr. Nabanoga is one of the leading directors of the beach.

She says when the water levels rose, her land was swallowed putting a risk to her buildings which the lake may swallow too.

Speaking to our writer, the environmental Don said there is nothing wrong with her actions saying NEMA cleared her but fell short of showing the Impact Assessment Certificate.

But the NEMA publicist, Tony Achidria says Nabanoga got a five year impact assessment certificate in 2017 before the water levels rose up and it was subject to changes accordingly.

He said such land re claiming deserved new assessment if need arises but was quick to wonder how man can stand to fight with nature.

Nabanoga is currently an Associate Professor and Deputy Principal of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University.

She holds a Ph.D in Gender and Natural Resources Management from Wageningen Agricultural University among others.

Dr. Nabanoga is aware of Wetlands Conservation Act. The purpose of this Act is to prescribe matters necessary for the efficient conservation and management of wetlands to contribute to the conservation of wetlands and wetland biodiversity, and for the promotion of international cooperation by reflecting the purpose of international convention on wetlands.