Authorities in Kikuube District have warned that strict action will be taken against individuals who tamper with newly installed boundary pillars marking the limits of Bugoma Forest Reserve.
The warning was issued by Godwin Angalia, Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kikuube, who said the district security committee is determined to ensure that the demarcation exercise proceeds without interference.
“The exercise will continue, and whoever is found inside the forest illegally will be evicted,” Angalia said.
Last week, the Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba, officially launched the installation of boundary pillars to demarcate approximately 158.8 square miles of the Bugoma Forest Reserve.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development between 2022 and 2023, out of 22 individuals and entities that claimed ownership of land near the forest, only two were able to present valid proof of ownership.
The survey identified Hoima Sugar Limited as owning about 22 square miles, while businessman Mustafa Zaidi owns approximately four square miles of land near the forest.
The minister advised the district authorities to first demarcate land belonging to Hoima Sugar Limited and Mustafa Zaidi, while the broader pillar installation exercise within the forest reserve continues.
Security Warns Against Sabotage
The Kikuube District Security Committee, led by Angalia, has since begun demarcating the land belonging to Hoima Sugar Limited and Mustafa Zaidi.
While overseeing the installation of pillars on land belonging to Hoima Sugar Limited, Angalia expressed concern that some individuals had uprooted previously installed boundary markers in an attempt to encroach further into the forest.
“I have been informed that some pillars were uprooted. We are now carrying out the final demarcation and planting of pillars. We will deploy informants, and whoever is found removing these pillars will face the law and serve as an example to others,” he said.
The exercise is being conducted by surveyors from the Ministry of Lands in collaboration with the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and representatives from Hoima Sugar Limited.
Angalia said that once the boundaries are clearly defined, security agencies will be able to effectively enforce protection measures within the forest reserve.
“Some people have been occupying parts of the forest claiming it is private land. It has been difficult to deploy security without clear boundaries. Once this exercise is completed, the forest will become a restricted area. Those currently inside the forest should begin leaving,” he warned.
The Farm Manager of Hoima Sugar Limited, Ramasamy Radhakrishnan, welcomed the government initiative, saying the demarcation exercise will help resolve the long-standing dispute between the National Forestry Authority and private landowners.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Andrew Byakutaga, reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to working with the government to safeguard the forest.
“The forest is very important to us as a kingdom, to the government, and to our people. We must work together to ensure it is protected,” Byakutaga said.
Bugoma Forest Reserve is considered one of the most important ecological areas in the Albertine region, and authorities say clear boundary demarcation will help prevent further encroachment and support conservation efforts.
