Environmental degradation is the major factor in the receding soil levels of Igenge hill in Jinja, according to experts.
Moses Maganda, Jinja district Environment Officer, says most people think heavy rains are the only cause of erosion on Igenge hill, but unplanned settlements and human activities on the hill have catalyzed the level of degradation.
Igenge hill located in Bugembe town council hosts Busoga Kingdom official palace and Wanyange Girls’ Secondary School, but has many unapproved settlements and other human activities like cultivation and murram extraction are carried out.
An environment impact assessment report (EIA) done by Jinja District Environment office in 2011 indicates that Igenge hill is faced with a problem of degradation due to human activities including unplanned settlements.
Moses Maganda, Jinja District Environment Officer, says that many human activities are done without re- planting trees, grass or environmentally-friendly cover on the slopes of the hill which exposes it to erosion when it rains.
Maganda says that this brings soil deposits at the foot of the hill thus blocking the drainage systems and roads.
He calls on Bugembe town council authorities to address the problem because it can be more harmful in the future.
Steven Wante, Chairperson LC3 Bugembe town council, says all unapproved houses and environmentally-unfriendly activities on Igenge hill have to be stopped.
The town council is working together with Busoga Kingdom to find out illegally constructed and unapproved structures which will be demolished.
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Wilson Muwereza, Busoga kingdom prime minister, has instituted a committee to probe the land ownership in Igenge. The committee commenced its work last year and is in its final stages. All owners of buildings on Igenge hill land are required to present documents showing how they acquired the land and letters of clearance from Jinja district and Bugembe town council allowing them to construct buildings on the hill.
A report is expected by the end of this month.
