By: Twongirwe Ireen
Worth Noting:
- Noteworthy, Bugoma forest is our main critical biodiversity resource that enables our area to get enough rainfall for agriculture as a source of our food and income, local medicine and other environmental, social and economic values once destroyed , we shall run short of food , revenues hence delay in social economic development.
- It’s also important to note that destruction of forest will lead to human –wild animal conflicts leading to death of animals such as lions, elephants, birds , chimpanzee hence reduced revenue from tourism children, destruction of crops, loss of biodiversity among others.
Over 50,000 local people including children, women, elderly, youth and others live in Kikuube and Hoima districts local communities bordering Bugoma forest. Bugoma forest is one of the few remaining iconic symbols of our life, the life of our children and the children of our children and therefore it should be conserved and protected from the on-going land grabbing and destruction.
Its important to note that once bugoma forest is destroyed, many lives of the vulnerable women, children, elderly, are going to be in a greater danger. More so, it should be clear that Hoima Sugar Ltd is a private company that is leading the destruction Bugoma forest with impunity based on illegal land titles and Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificates of approval.
Its clear that the company is also violating the Kikube district physical plan 2020-2040 by carrying out activities without the consent of the local communies and local leaders. It is very unfortunate that the ongoing Hoima Sugar Ltd’s illegal activities in Bugoma forest are being protected by UPDF and other government agencies.
Noteworthy, Bugoma forest is our main critical biodiversity resource that enables our area to get enough rainfall for agriculture as a source of our food and income, local medicine and other environmental, social and economic values once destroyed , we shall run short of food , revenues hence delay in social economic development.
It’s also important to note that destruction of forest will lead to human –wild animal conflicts leading to death of animals such as lions, elephants, birds , chimpanzee hence reduced revenue from tourism children, destruction of crops, loss of biodiversity among others.
However its not only destruction of bugoma forest that has negatively affect the lives of local communities but also other projects like refinery , EACOP, Tilenga and Kingfisher among others. All these projects have affected the country at large .
To your attention, these projects has caused desertification, increased climate change impacts such as drought , floods greatly affecting women who do agriculture and responsible to provide food to the family, land grabbing , evictions, violation of human women rights, school dropouts, early marriages , among others.
In conclusion, there is need for Government agencies , private and public sectors to save the lives of the affected persons by sensitizing them on how to live in the hostile environment. More so , Open boundaries of Bugoma forest by directing the MLHUD, MWE, NEMA and NFA to urgently commission an independent survey to open the boundaries of Bugoma forest. In addition, investigate corruption and connivance in the give-away of part of Bugoma forest. We call upon Parliament to investigate how the 22 square miles of Bugoma forest land were given away to Hoima Sugar Ltd for sugarcane growing. And why is UPDF protecting Hoima Sugar Ltd’s illegal activities in Bugoma forest?
There is also need to suspend all suspected corrupt government officials especially the ministry of lands to Use their oversight powers to pressure government to suspend all government officials including the Commissioner for Surveys , the Executive Director of NEMA and other suspects whose omissions and commissions are facilitating the land grabbing and destruction of Bugoma forest.
In a nutshell, Government should use its powers of compulsory land acquisition under Article 26 of the Constitution to save Bugoma forest and its catchment areas from land grabbers.
Save Bugoma forest save Biodiversity
For God and my country
Twongirwe Ireen
Executive director Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda ( WoGEM U).
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