NEMA and NFA accuse judiciary of frustrating efforts to deal with encroachers on public land

The heads of the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have accused the Judiciary of frustrating their efforts of removing encroachers on Namanve forest reserve and wetlands.

The NFA, executive director, Dr. Micheal Mugisa, says since 2010 many people have been arrested for encroaching on the Namanve forest reserve, but they end up freed or getting light sentences in the courts of law.

However, Principal Judge Dr. Yorokamu Bamwine advised the senior officials to push for amendments in the law to give the judiciary more powers to deal with encroachers instead of unfairly accusing courts of collusion with encroachers.