Tension and heartbreak unfolded in Kawaala Zone II as dozens of families were left stranded following a fresh demolition exercise targeting structures in the Lubigi wetland.
The operation, led by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) with support from the UPDF and police, saw more than 150 homes, shops, and workshops brought down along the Northern Bypass.
Residents watched helplessly as graders flattened houses, while others rushed to rescue household property and business merchandise before the demolitions intensified.
Several people were arrested after attempting to protest the exercise, accusing authorities of ignoring an ongoing court process over compensation.
Local leaders claim affected residents had sought legal intervention and were expecting a court hearing next month, but enforcement teams moved in before the matter could be resolved.
Suleiman Ssenyonga, chairperson of carpenters operating in the area, accused NEMA of acting unfairly and leaving hundreds without shelter or income.
SOT: SSENYONGA
Affected families say they now face uncertainty, with many left homeless and forced to spend the night in the open after losing everything during the eviction.
However, NEMA insists the operation is lawful and aimed at restoring the Lubigi wetland, warning that settling or constructing in protected wetlands remains illegal under the National Environment Act.
The authority says affected residents had been given enough notice to vacate voluntarily before enforcement resumed.
The latest demolition is part of a nationwide crackdown on wetland encroachment following increased concerns over environmental destruction and flooding in Kampala.
