Activists ask gov’t to rethink its position on Bugoma forest giveaway

Civil society organisations have asked government to rethink its position in regards the giveaway of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve .

Addressing journalists on Friday, the activists said whereas  report on the boundary reopening for the forest has been completed , it has not saved the situation but rather exacerbated the matter.

“We are dismayed that the report does not provide a definitive finding on whether Hoima Sugar Limited  encroached on Bugoma forest reserve  land. Instead, it relies on illegally obtained certificates of registrations, the illegal Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate, the search statement, and court judgments to reach a finding that Hoima Sugar Ltd is utilising land leased to it by the Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom (BKK), without determining whether that land is within the Bugoma forest reserve gazetted area,” said Godfrey Twesigye, the Executive Director for Water & Environment Media Network Uganda(WEMNET).

Twesigye said whereas as civil society they appreciate the exercise for the boundary reopening, it fell short of expectations  as it doesn’t solve the issue at hand.

“Rather, it seeks to validate the illegal land grab under the guise of Bugoma Central Forest reserve.”

Dickens Kamugisha, the CEO for Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) said unlike other reports, the one on Bugoma forest doesn’t have any conclusion.

“One of the fundamental things we are asking government to do is for this report to have a conclusion relating to the survey. The report also failed to explain how Bunyoro Kingdom acquired land in a forest reserve and later gave it away,” Kamugisha said.

“It is astonishing to know that the report points to only those without land titles as occupants on the forest land but it silent on the other with titles. The report doesn’t show the land taken and is occupied by Hoima Sugar Limited, MZ and a prince from Bunyoro kingdom. In brief, the survey report is a sham.”

The activists said whereas they had asked to be part of the boundary reopening, they were ignored as well as key stakeholders but rather government officials including the RDC and District Police Commander were interviewed.

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The CSOs asked that government urgently addresses the gaps highlighted in the survey and boundary opening report by making positive recommendations for the conservation of Bugoma forest.

“We ask government to avail a conclusive finding on Hoima Sugar Ltd's encroachment but also cancel  all illegal and fraudulent land titles in forested and protected reserves.The boundary survey report must show whether the forest land still exists and, if not, where part of the forest land is,” Dickens Kamugisha said.

“Government should preserve Bugoma forest as it is, and not use boundary exercises as excuses for cutting parts of the rain tropical forest.”

The activists also asked government to come clear and stop intimidation of colleagues involved in the campaign to save Bugoma forest.