The Standards, Utilities, and Wildlife Court has convicted seven Chinese investors on charges of disturbing Lwera wetland by drilling.
Those convicted are; Liang Cheng Wu, Ui Wen Hu, Lian Cheng Xiang, Hu Dong Xu, Ge Xing Liang, Zie Gong Zuo and Wang Peichuan.
The Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu heard that the group and others still at large on 8th July 2024 at Kamuwunga village Magezi Kizungu Parish Lukaya Town Council Kalungu district, disturbed Lwera wetland by drilling it in a manner that is likely to destroy it.
They were convicted following their plea of guilty. They await sentencing expected to take place on Wednesday.
During the hearing, the prosecution amended the charge sheet to include an additional count of conspiracy to drill Lwera Wetland and added Double Q Company Limited as a defendant.
The accused initially denied the charges, claiming they were tourists, but later admitted to the offenses because they did not have a license to conduct mining activities in the wetland.
The prosecution led by Judith Nyamwiza requested a deterrent sentence. She highlighted the impact of the investors’ actions on the environment and dependent residents.
The defense team, led by Grace Byaruhanga, asked for a lenient sentence, noting that the convicts had not wasted the court’s time. Consequently, Kamasanyu has fixed July 31, 2024, for sentencing.
The investors were arrested on July 8, 2024, by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and environment police for drilling the wetland in a manner that is likely to destroy it and failure to comply with environmental laws. They were reportedly found with over 10 graders and other equipment used for drilling.
The incident follows last year’s collapse of the Lwera bridge, allegedly due to drilling activities by Chinese investors.
About two weeks ago, the same Court found Kerim Ray, a Turkish national the Director of Yamani Construction Limited guilty of similar charges.
He was accused of violating environmental laws by encroaching upon and depositing murram in the Lwajjali Wetland in Mukono, Uganda
He was accordingly sentenced to pay a fine of sh200m or five years in default.
Kamasanyu further ordered Kerim Ray to Restore the Lwajjali Wetland within 30 days from the date of his conviction under the inspection of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
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