Save River Ncwera from silting-Bushenyi leaders told

Save River Ncwera from silting-Bushenyi leaders told

Environmentalists in Bushenyi District have petitioned the district authorities to save one of the major river in the district from degradation.

R.Ncwera located in Nyabubare Sub County has been seriously attacked by tea farmers in the area by encroaching on its river banks.

Tea plantations have been established in both sides to the extent of planting in the river banks leaving the river to suffer silting due to erosion.

R.Ncwera is the biggest river in Bushenyi district whereby it goes through Bushenyi and Mitooma districts and goes to Rukungiri district.

River Ncwera whose river banks have been encroached on by tea farmers.

It supports agriculture and tourism activities in all the mentioned districts. It also supplies the National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (NWSC) water system (reservoirs) in the region. Bushenyi district also plans to set up a hydro power station on one of the points of the river.

One environmentalist who preferred anonymity said they want to see the Bushenyi district leadership intervening to evict tea farmers who have encroached on the river to the extent of diverting it.

Vicent Katate the Bushenyi district environment officer said he was not aware of the situation explaining that he will visit the area under contention and decide on the next action to take.