Conserving the major forests
By: Kato Paul
Worth Noting:
- Recently a lot has been happening resulting from the environmental degradation for instance continuous floods across the country, change of the seasons, strong winds leading to destruction of food crops and houses and human –conflict around the Bugoma central forest and Bweyogerere in Wakiso districk.
- The forests needs to be protected because the play a big roles to the environment itself, people’s livelihoods and country’s economy. The role provides local herbs to people, home the variety species of animals, helps in the formation of the rainfall, and provides fire wood and others. The development of the industries in the forest especially Bajjo forest reserve cannot replace the socio-economic services that the forest provide.
Last week the media reported about the leaders and the residents of Kayunga district protesting against the selling of some part of Bajjo forest reserve to the Kiira Motors for industrial development. The protestors were seen carrying placard, clubs and stones threatening to attack Mr. Ssempala and the team from the corporation. This was too bad but it was the only way for the Bajjo forest host communities to express their environmental rights and the concerns.
When the forest is destroyed for the industrial development , the Kayunga residents will be the one to first experience the climate change impact and other like animal – human conflicts, lack of herb medicine as well as fire wood.
On the 26th day of October 2021, a motion to de-gazette three (3) forest reserves namely; Wamale Central Forest Reserve, Kiula Central Forest Reserve and Bajjo Central Forest Reserve that are located in Bbaale and Galiraya sub counties in Bbaale Constituency in Kayunga District was moved under rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament by the Hon. Charles Tebandeke the Bbaale Constituency Legislator on the floor of parliament and seconded by Nsanja Patrick Kayongo (MP Ntenjeru South), Hon. Lugolobi Amos (MP Ntenjeru North)andZijan David Livingstone (MP Butembe County).
However, the debate caused mixed reactions immediately after its tabling first from the Kayunga District Woman MP Hon. Nantaba Idah Erios citing bribe and hidden motives behind the motion and later from the residents of the district and particularly the residents from the two sub-counties in which the contested forest reserves are found. These practices by the some individuals in the parliament have cause to the destruction of the forest across the country including the Bajjo forest reserve.
Many forests across the country have been destroyed to favor the industrial developments which have not even created enough employments to the Ugandans especially the youth with the big population of un employment. The forest destroyed include the Bugoma central reserve in Kikuube and Hoima for sugar cane, Zoka central reserve in Northern Uganda and Budongo forest in Masindi among others.
The industrial developments taking place in the sensitive eco-systems are likely to cause the serious negative impacts on the environment, climate change, people’s livelihoods and the country’s economy.
Recently a lot has been happening resulting from the environmental degradation for instance continuous floods across the country, change of the seasons, strong winds leading to destruction of food crops and houses and human –conflict around the Bugoma central forest and Bweyogerere in Wakiso districk.
The forests needs to be protected because the play a big roles to the environment itself, people’s livelihoods and country’s economy. The role provides local herbs to people, home the variety species of animals, helps in the formation of the rainfall, and provides fire wood and others. The development of the industries in the forest especially Bajjo forest reserve cannot replace the socio-economic services that the forest provide.
Therefore , I call on National forest Management Authority(NEMA), National Forestry Authority(NFA) , the ministry of Lands and all the local leaders to strengthen the environmental laws that are going protect the forests from encroachers and they need to open the boundaries of these forests to enable the host communities to understand were their land is ending.
Kato Paul – Research Associate at Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO)
Katop.adyeeri@gmail.com
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