The Legal Implications Of Encroachment On Wetlands In Uganda: A Case Study Of Toroma Sub-County Ka Takwi District

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to establish tbe encroachment on wetlands its legal implications in

Toroma Sub County. The major focus was to find out whether the affected communities were

able to respond to tbe researcher. The descriptive study design was adopted during research;

information was obtained from botb primary and secondary sources.

The questioners were used to get information from tbe respondents to their respective areas of

operation and tbe interviews supplemented tbe information got through questioners. The

research findings revealed high level of encroachment of wetlands botb over grazing, crop

growing, papyrus cutting and tree cutting among all over grazing has resulted into dipper or far

reaching effects which have left land bare where by causing desertification.

To curb down encroachment on wetland in Toroma sub county the government , non

governmental organization and otber stake holders should put emphasis on educating tbe

masses on the importance and tbe values of wetlands and the community should also be told tbe

dangers of encroachment. The enforcement agencies should strengthen tbe laws and regulations, which is one of the causes of encroachment because of the absence of the law on the wetlands and the communities should be empowered by giving tbem legal education to tbe protection of wetland. Finally those who claim to have been tbe occupants of wetland since time immemorial should  be compensated by the government to vacate tbe wetlands.