Officials in Masaka Municipal Council are investigating a rare incident in which unknown people uprooted several trees along the streets and poured chemicals at other mature trees which have been working as green belts.
Last year, visiting Japanese Government officials planted over 1000 trees along Masaka streets to restore green belts in the municipality. Some of the streets which benefitted from the tree planting campaign are Edward Avenue, Yellow Line, Kooki Street, and Grant Street near Byansi Medical Services.
Others are Bwala road, Hobart Street and Buddu Street. The tree species plated included Cauvario, Cuasarina, Mango trees, guavas and avocado.
However, several of the planted trees have been uprooted and stolen while others have been destroyed.
Pauline Nabadda, the Masaka Municipality Environment officer says the latest incident happened last month when unknown people removed the bark of Cauvario trees along Grant Street, and poured a yet to be identified chemical on at least 10 trees which are now withering.
Nabadda says they have launched an investigation into the matter by interrogating several people along Grant Street.
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Nabadda says the destruction of the trees could in the long run affect people.
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Masaka Mayor Godfrey Kayemba Afaayo says the municipal council has set up a committee led by environmental police and law enforcement officers to investigate the motive. Kayemba says he is surprised even the planted at Masaka Central Police headquarters were also destroyed.
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