Run to save Bugoma Forest slated for March 31

By Stella Kobulegyeya

The Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ABCF) has launched the third edition of the Run for Nature to unite people and organizations who respect and protect the environment.

The Run for Nature will take place on 31st of March 2019 starting at 7:00am from Rivonia Hotel in Robert Mugabe road, Mbuya.

The announcement was made during the press conference of run for nature 2019 under the theme “No Way for Forestry Encroachment,” at Uganda Museum on Friday. 

It was attended by conservational associations like National Forestry Authority (NFA), Nganda Island Chimpanzees, Uganda Tourism Board and Destination Jungle. 

Costantino Tessarin, the director Destination Jungle, said that the run will be a way of saying no to forest encroachment, climate warming and no way to Mustapha Zaid who allegedly wants to destroy 925 hectares of natural Bugoma forest to grow sugarcane. 

He also argued called upon the government to investigate on how Zaid obtained the land title because the sale of the public land were never publicized. 

Costantino said they are now even preparing a project for the dissemination of agro-forestry practices and environmental education for the youth in schools. 

Tom Rukundo from NFA said they have temporarily suspended the growth of timber in the forest to give the forest a chance to increase its cover. He advised that timber should be grown in plantations not around the forest.