The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has destroyed large plantations of crops and trees planted in wetlands belonging to prominent people in Kole district, including the area LCV Chairperson, Andrew Awany, a senior Army officer, a medical doctor, and a professor.
On Wednesday, April 25th, 2023, NEMA launched a special operation in Kole district to reclaim a large part of the wetlands on Okole Swamp, which have been encroached upon by residents, including top officials.
During the operation, a large farm of crops and eucalyptus trees located at Amola village, Telela parish, Ayer sub-county, belonging to Awany, was razed down by the team, according to Kole RDC Caroline Angolere.
“NEMA destroyed crops from ten officials who had encroached on Okole Swamp, including a medical doctor at Aboke H/CIV, an Army officer, a professor from Bala Sub County, and even the district chairperson,” said RDC Angolere.
The operation to reclaim wetland from encroachers escalated in 2020 following the presidential directive to NEMA and the district security committee, among other officials.
According to RDC Angolere, a total of 9% of Kole district is covered by Okole Swamp, of which about 33% has been encroached on, mostly by powerful people, including political leaders, civil servants, and businessmen, alongside local residents.
Awany insists his farm isn’t in the wetland and claims his opponents are using the District Security Committee, an allegation that RDC Angolere trashed, describing it as baseless and mere politicking.
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