Museveni- No one will cut down Bugoma forest

President Museveni has assured locals and other conservation enthusiasts in Bunyoro that he will not allow the destruction of Bugoma forest for sugarcane growing.

Masindi High Court judge Wilson Masalu Musene in April dismissed with costs a case that National Forestry Authority had filed against the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Solomon Iguru Gafabusa, for alleged encroachment and degradation of the forest reserve to allow the cutting down of the forest for sugarcane growing.

Various tourism and conservation activists recently started a campaign intended to save Bugoma Forest whose clearance court gave a green light to pave way for growing of sugar canes.

Addressing a press conference at Masindi State Lodge on Thursday, Museveni said he cannot look on as the environment is being threatened.

“We shall not allow such to be done. We shall make sure we bring it back,”Museveni told journalists.

“Degrading wetlands and forests means someone is fighting 40% of Uganda’s rainfall. I cannot look on as people degrade forests.”

Museveni insisted he will make sure government protects Bugoma forest.

Addressing journalists early this month on behalf of other activists, Richard Kawere, the Uganda Tourism Association CEO said in the past few years, Bugoma forest has faced a number of threats impacting negatively on its survival but noted they cannot just sit and watch events unfold.

“The development of sugar cane plantations coupled with the opening of Hoima Sugar Works in 2016, located next to the natural forest had done more harm than good to the forest because the  crop(sugarcanes) does not match at all with the nature of the forest habitat,” Kawere said.

The activists said the issuing of land title inside and outside the protected forest reserve has led to encroachments on the forest and this they said is done with support from the Bunyoro- Kitara Kingdom officials and political leaders from Hoima district.

The activists said the issuing of land title inside and outside the protected forest reserve has led to encroachments on the forest and this they said is done with support from the Bunyoro- Kitara Kingdom officials and political leaders from Hoima district.

What is at stake?

Activists say the conservation of Bugoma Forest in is paramount for the livelihood of the local farmers’ communities, who they say are in support of the conservation because of the benefits from the forest.

“Destruction and change in the use of the habitat will affect the climate, the water sources, the whole economy of the area, while in particular sugar cane will worsen the remaining existence of natural habitat and its wildlife with more conflicts between humans and wildlife, as well as impoverishing the soil and impoverishing the local communities,” said Association of Uganda Tour Operators Vice Chairperson, Benedict Ntale, who is also the Managing Director for Ape Treks.

“The current development and investments in eco-tourism activities and tourist accommodation through Bugoma Jungle Lodge and the new lodge in Mwera in Bugoma Forest will automatically be compromised by the destruction of the habitat.”

The conservation and tourism activists say the rare chimpanzees and the Ugandan mangabeys that are tourist attractions and occupy Bugoma Forest will be left homeless, a thing they say will impact negatively on the country’s tourism industry.

“ The conservation efforts by many organizations in and around Bugoma Forest, having various projects in tree – planting, farmers’ support, socio – economic supports to vulnerable communities including refugees in the area will be frustrated by the destruction of  the forest.”

About Bugoma forest

With 411 sq km or 41.144 hectares of protected area, Bugoma Central Forest Reserve is the largest remaining block of natural tropical forest along the Albertine Rift Valley between Budongo and Semliki. The forest is home to about 500 chimpanzees (10% of the Ugandan chimp population), making the forest a chimpanzee sanctuary.

It also hosts a population of Ugandan mangabeys, endemic to only this forest which are therefore a unique treasure whereas the forest has over 221 bird species and is therefore a tourist attraction.

It was gazetted in the 1930s and came under the mandate of the National Forestry Authority in 2003.

In Uganda, there are only four forests that have a viable population for Chimpanzees and Bugoma is one of them.