Leave Forest, Says Minister
Copyright 2001 New Vision (Kampala)
October 22, 2001
Water, lands and environment minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has directed all encroachers in a south Busoga forest reserve in Mayuge district, not to plant crops after December 31.
Rugunda gave the directive on October 18 at meetings with the residents of Bukalenzi, Nduwa and Bute landing sites in Bunya South.
The 61.5 square mile forest reserve gazetted in 1939, has been encroached with 3/4 of it now under cultivation.
Rugunda said the extensive depletion of the forest could cause a desert and famine in the area.
"You have been given a deadline of December 31 to stop any further growing of agricultural crops on the reserve," Rugunda said. He said the Government would not simply sit back and watch the environment get ruined.
Bunya South Member of Parliament Tom Bagalana asked the Government to gazette Bwonda and Nduwa as landing sites and to free a part of the forest reserve for farming.
Outgoing Resident District Commissioner Hajji Abbas Seguya, said over 70 landing sites in the district were operating illegally.
These include Nairobi, Simure Malindi and Bugadde.