The chairperson of the Natural Resources Committee, Alex Byarugaba.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the chairperson of the Committee, Alex Byarugaba said that sand mining activities especially in the areas of Lwera, Katanga wetland in Mpigi and Katinda in Wakiso district have effected on the natural habitat and caused adverse effect on the wetland.

He further expressed worries that despite the important role the sand plays in the construction industry, the country might run out of it in the next ten years given the pressure put on Lake Victoria by the sand miners who use heavy machinery without extraction limits.

Byarugaba said that it’s unfortunate that in their field work tour of the mentioned areas, it was found out that the companies mining this sand are doing it illegally since the permits issued to them by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) are for carrying out fishing but not mining of sand.

The committee now wants all the activities of the mentioned companies involved in sand mining to be halted with immediate effect until NEMA reviews their permits.

However, Byarugaba further faults NEMA for its negligence in monitoring the activities of these companies on the lake

One of the areas where sand is mined in Lwera in Mpigi districts. MPs say such activities are destroying the environment.

He said that NEMA should   give the restoration orders to these mining companies to restore the destroyed part of the environment at the shores where they have been operating.

Byarugaba further decries the loss this sand mining is to causing to the natural habitat in the lake and government especially infrastructure such as  Masaka road which he said is frequently wearing out fast due to heavy sand transported by heavy trucks and this has caused some curving in on some sections.

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Mitooma Woman Member of Parliament Jovah Kamateeka (L) who heads the Human Rights Committee of Parliament.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Jovia Kamateeka says last year KCCA advertised jobs which people applied for and did interviews with 35 of them and that these were hired but letters appointment given but that up to now, they are yet to start work.

Kamateeka says that this is against the principles of natural justice and that that it is inhuman to make someone go through interviews and you give them appointment letters and yet deny them a chance to work.
However, explained that whereas the acting director legal affairs at KCCA, Charles Ouma admitted that it’s true some people were appointed by the authority, they cannot let them begin work due to limited funds.

At the same meeting, State minister for Kampala, Bena Namugwanya , informed the committee that in four  months the authority will  organise election of boda boda leadership in Kampala so that they can streamline their operations.

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