Activists say Uganda risks losing over 400 tree, bird species in Bugoma forest giveaway

Activists have said the country risks losing over 400 tree and bird species if the proposed give away of Bugoma forest reserve in Hoima district materializes.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, John Mary Odoi, the chairman, board of directors for at Climate Action Network Uganda said Bugoma is known for preserving wildlife but noted this will be no more if the forest is given away.

“There will be loss of biodiversity as over 260 species of trees in the forest will eventually disappear. The forest is also a habitat for animals and birds that will eventually disappear. There is likelihood of 23 species of animals and birds losing their homes,”Odoi said.

Flora and fauna contribute to some of the biggest tourist attractions in Uganda and according to the activists, with the giveaway of Bugoma forest, this will be a story of the past.

The activists noted that the recent natural calamities like floods and landslides that have hit the country in the past years can be attributed to destruction of certain features of the environment like forests.

They warned that the trend will continue with the giveaway of Bugoma forest.

“Uganda made a commitment to addressing climate change concerns including reducing emissions by 22% and keeping the temperature low. One of the contributors to the achievement of these ambitions is to increase tree coverage in order to have carbon gains. However, with Bugoma being given away, we can’t achieve this.”

NEMA faulted

The activists never minced words while taking a swipe at National Environment Management Authority that labelled as full of mafia.

On Monday, NEMA issued a press statement in which the environment body said the only remedy they had was regulating “permissible activities” on the land including sugarcane growing.

“in the circumstances, the best remedy was for NEMA to regulate permissible activities on the land whose ownership had been determined by court. As such, different section of the said land was legitimately approved for undertaking of legal activities including sugarcane plantation (9. 24sq.miles),” the NEMA statement said in part.

The activists however said sugarcanes are not worth the lives of Ugandans that are at risk with the giving away of the forest.

“The forest has a cultural attachment to all Ugandans that it can’t just be given away by money-minded people. It is only impunity and arrogance being expressed by NEMA officials,” said Proscovia Nanyonjo from Buganda kingdom.

“Bugoma is not just a bunch of trees or a mere forest but a sign of heritage for Uganda. Sugar is not the immediate solution to the problems of climate change we have. We can ably live without sugarcanes and sugar.”

According to the activists, they have learnt lessons from Murchison Falls and Mabira giveaways that they can’t take any chances with Bugoma forest.

“Giving away Bugoma forest is violation of the basic right to life. This right is not given by anyone apart from God. We know giving away the forest was an error but it can be rectified. It is not too late to reverse the giveaway,” said Hussein Kato, the Executive Director for Earth and Rights Initiative.

Dickens Kamugisha, the Executive Director for the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) said parliament ought to intervene in the matter of Bugoma forest.

“Parliament should use its oversight powers to investigate the actions of NEMA, Hoima Sugar Ltd and Ministry of Lands for issuing land titles in forest reserves, approving Environmental and Social Impact Assessment reports in disregarding of national laws and other illegal actions,” Kamugisha said.