Parliament’s committee on natural resources has stopped the mining of sand on Lwera wetland located along the Kampala-Masaka highway.
The ban was issued after a company, Aqua World Uganda Limited owned by Pastor Samuel Kakande was accused of allegedly engaging in the illegal mining of sand and encroaching on Lake Victoria contrary to existing laws.
Officials from Aqua World Uganda, a company that operates fish farms, got into trouble as they tried to explain why they expanded their mandate to start mining sand. The company which is owned by Pastor Samuel Kakande and another individual only identified as Nancy are accused of encroaching on Lake Victoria through their mining activities in the Lwera wetland.
The land in contention covering approximately 15 acres is a major water catchment area that connects rivers and wetlands in Gomba, Mpigi and Kulungu districts before it drains directly into Lake Victoria.
According to Section 28 of the Mining Regulations of 2004, a location license within a river or swamp and land adjoining such river or swamp, should be 1500 metres measured along the middle of the course of the river or swamp and not more than 100 metres on each side of the course of the river or swamp.
The company’s lawyer Bernard Mutyaba says rising water levels are to blame for the close proximity of their mining pond to the shores of Lake Victoria.
The Aqua representative also failed to convince the legislators that they got an approval from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to carry sand mining. In fact, parliament also heard that the company ignored advice from environment experts in the area.
Now Parliament also wants NEMA to answer to claims that they connived with the company to issue out an illegal license.