The National Environment Management Authority (National Environment Management Authority) has launched a fresh wave of crackdowns on illegal sand mining in the Lwera wetland, as pressure mounts over the destruction of one of Uganda’s most fragile ecosystems.
The operation, carried out jointly with the Environment Protection Force, Ministry of Water and Environment, Environmental Protection Police Unit, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, targeted illegal extraction hotspots in Mpigi and Kalungu districts.
In a coordinated two-day sweep, enforcement teams descended on Gwanira village in Mpigi and Kamuwunga village in Kalungu, where large-scale sand mining was reportedly taking place in breach of environmental regulations.
What began as surveillance turned into a full-scale enforcement operation, with authorities impounding eight Sino trucks allegedly used in transporting illegally mined sand. The vehicles are now parked at Lubigi Police Station as investigations continue.
In Kalungu, enforcement officers destroyed 50 boats that were reportedly being used to scoop sand from the wetland system, while six suspects were arrested and taken into custody.
Authorities also confiscated about 50 spades used in the illegal extraction process, describing them as tools of a growing environmental crime network.
Preliminary findings indicate that the operators had no authorisation from NEMA. In Mpigi, sand was being excavated from dry land without approval, while in Kalungu extraction was taking place along the Kampala–Masaka highway using boats and manual labour.
Officials warned that the continued destruction of Lwera poses serious risks, including wetland degradation, loss of biodiversity, and potential damage to key transport infrastructure along the highway corridor.
NEMA said those arrested will face prosecution and administrative penalties under environmental laws, while restoration orders will be issued to force rehabilitation of the damaged sites.
The authority reiterated that Lwera remains a protected ecological zone and warned that enforcement operations will continue until illegal sand mining is brought under control.
