South Busoga forest reserve in Mayuge has violated National Environment Management Authority’s agreed upon guidelines not to encroach on the lake shore, community land and foot hills in the district.
According to NEMA, tree planting should not extend up to within 200 metres from the lake shore buffer zone, foothills and community places like schools, hospitals and churches but this has not been the case.
Godfrey Opio, a resident of Bukaleeba says the forest management has planted trees up to within five metres from Bukaleeba primary school, leaving no space for pupils to play and the school to have its own land for use in education and cultivation.
Opio says in most parts encroachment on community land in villages that host South Busoga forest reserve of Bukaleeba, Nakalanga, Waigala and Walumbe has deprived the community of enough land for cultivation yet government has not helped them.
\\\\ Cue in “these forest people…”
Cue out “…we can get food.”//
Thomas Loyep, a resident of Nakalanga village says most of the garden crops grown in lake shore reserves like maize, beans and cassava, have been destroyed by the management of South Busoga forest reserve. Most of the gardens are located along the lake shores and community land in Bukaleeba, Kisumu, Fidroti and Waigala villages.
Pine trees, less than two years old are growing in the gardens.
\\\\ Cue in “trees were planted…”
Cue out “…as a no go area…”//
Thomas Aramu, the Mayuge district environment officer says the encroachment on the lakeshores has been as a result of global warming which dries up parts of the lake, giving room for the forest managers to plant pine trees on the dried up land which is unacceptable.
He says according to NEMA, sometimes the water levels rise which requires for a buffer zone from the lake including wetlands.
Teddy Nsamba, the manager South Busoga forest reserve says the people have utilised the community land and encroached onto some of the forest land, although some trees were wrongly planted in the no go areas and are going to be uprooted.
\\\\ Cue in “a group of people…”
Cue out “…eucalyptus and pines.”//
In 1993, government through Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, the then Minister for Water,
Lands and Environment had resolved to give 500 hectares of the forest reserve to local residents for forest-friendly activities. However, the residents are still waiting for a formal endorsement from government.
Over 2000 homes are located in South Busoga forest reserve in Bukaleeba, Mayuge district.
