The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has given the National Forest Authority (NFA) a one-week ultimatum to deliver and plant demarcation pillars for Bugoma Forest, accusing the agency of contributing to continued encroachment.
Nabakooba said it was unfortunate that the NFA had not installed pillars despite boundary opening exercises being conducted in 2022, with a report presented in 2023.
She made the directive during a stakeholders’ meeting in Kikuube District, convened to address growing concerns over the depletion of the forest through illegal cultivation of maize and sugarcane, as well as timber and charcoal burning.
The engagement brought together security heads in Bunyoro, officials from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, investors, ministers, and representatives from the Ministry of Water and Environment and the NFA.
“I heard some people saying we need to do boundary opening. That was done some time back and a report presented in 2023. I don’t know why NFA has not brought the pillars for demarcation,” Nabakooba said.
She directed the NFA to ensure the pillars are delivered and planted within one week, after which government agencies and stakeholders will reconvene to address the removal of encroachers from the forest land.
“A month is too much. I want the pillars brought in one week. Let’s do the demarcation, then after we can talk about other issues of people within the forest area,” she added.
Nabakooba also appealed to leaders from Bunyoro Kingdom and political authorities to support officials tasked with planting the pillars, noting that significant public funds had already been spent on boundary opening and that repeating the process would be wasteful.
Security officials at the meeting acknowledged internal weaknesses and alleged collusion contributing to the ongoing destruction.
Major General Moses Rwakitaraki, Coordinator for Vital Assets and Key Installations, said there had been connivance involving some NFA and security personnel. He noted that operations had uncovered continued tree cutting for timber and charcoal but assured the meeting that errant officers would be dealt with.
“I talked to one of my colleagues who has a garden and asked him not to plant again. He listened. So we want all parties with interest to declare and leave the forest,” Rwakitaraki said.
Brigadier General Irumba Tingira cited internal wrangles within Bunyoro Kingdom as part of the complexity surrounding the land.
He referred to factions linked to Prince Okwir Mugenyi Rucunya and Kingdom Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga, saying competing interests had complicated enforcement efforts.
Part of the contested land, he said, belongs to the kingdom and was allocated to an investor, Hoima Sugar Limited.
The Resident District Commissioner of Kikuube, Godwin Angalia, also raised alarm over the rate of forest depletion.
“I came here in late December as RDC, but when I went inside the forest, even traditional trees had been cut for maize and cane. We have resolved as a security committee not to allow these illegal acts of charcoal and timber cutting as we work with other stakeholders to protect the forest,” he said.
Representing the kingdom’s premier, the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Administrative Secretary Alex Katusabe said the cultural institution was ready to work with government to demarcate and safeguard the forest, citing its environmental and economic value.
NFA Executive Director Stuart Maniraguha assured stakeholders that the authority would ensure the pillars are delivered within the stipulated time.
However, he appealed for cooperation, noting that some pillars and replanted trees have previously been uprooted.
“We need all stakeholders on board—leaders, cultural leaders and security—to be on our side so that the work can be easy,” he said.
According to the 2022–2023 demarcation report, only two entities—Hoima Sugar Limited and MZ Company—were found to have land close to Bugoma Forest.
The forest spans approximately 158.8 square miles, while Hoima Sugar occupies about 22 square miles near its boundary.
The meeting resolved that once pillar installation is completed, further engagements will be held to develop mechanisms for reforestation and to strengthen measures against illegal activities within the reserve.
