By Witness Radio team.
The hearing of a case against 72-year-old Namuddu Ruth for disobeying NEMA’s order is kicking off today at 9 am EAT at the Makindye Magistrates Court in Kampala.
Namuddu was arrested by the police in Kampala on October 16th, 2024. The Makindye Court charged her with failure to comply with orders and notices issued by the National Environment Authority (NEMA) and sent her on remand to Luzira prison. She is accused of disobeying NEMA’s orders to vacate her land.
At the time of her arrest, Namuddu was in the process of erecting a makeshift structure on her own land, following a violent eviction by NEMA. This act of defiance was a testament to the injustice she had faced.
NEMA’s exercise, known as the ‘restoration of Lubigi swamp,’ was marred by controversy. The authority erased Namuddu’s permanent houses and other properties worth millions of Uganda Shillings, leading to her displacement and that of many other urban poor city dwellers. The operation was widely criticized for its selective implementation, sparing structures owned by the rich while erasing those of the poor without consultation or compensation.
Namuddu, who spent close to two months on remand after her arrest, is one of more than 100 households in the villages of Nansana West II, Ganda-Nasere, Nabweru South I & II, Kawaala Zone II, and some parts of Bwaise and Namungoona that were forced to leave their land by the NEMA under a heavily guarded operation by armed soldiers and police personnel.
After spending close to two months in remand, Namuddu was granted a non-cash bail of two million Uganda shillings (2,000,000/=) by Her Worship Siene Owomugisha. This decision came after a wave of public criticism and demands for justice, highlighting the power of collective action.
The case hearing will begin today, December 9th, at 9:00 a.m. EAT at Makindye Chief Magistrate Court.
