National Forestry Authority has suspended the replanting of trees in the depleted Bugoma forest reserve compartment MU6 in Hoima district citing an unpredictable weather. The forest reserve was destroyed by army veterans who cleared over 5000 hectares of land. However, the encroachers were forcefully evicted by the National Forestry Authority in March this year to pave way for the replanting of trees.
Robert Owinyi, NFA Kisindi Sector Manager says that the tree planting exercise has temporarily been suspended because of lack of rain. He says that the tree seedling could be affected by the dry spell. Owiny says that the tree planting exercise will resume, immediately the rain season sets in. According to Owiny only 8 hectares of the planned 20 have been replanted in the first phase.
Last month, Michael Mugisha, the National Forestry Authority Executive Director visited the depleted forest area in Nyairongo. Overwhelmed by the level of destruction Mugisha addressed the veterans and ordered them never to step in the forest again. He also commissioned the veterans to keep a watch over the forest reserve to ensure no one encroaches on it again.
Gard Guma, the supervisor Kaseta Beat where the destroyed compartment MU6 lies says the veterans have since been doing a good work. Guma says this could be a sign that the veterans have given up on returning to the forest. The veterans under Tulipona Veterans group invaded Bugoma forest reserve mid last year and distributed plots amongst themselves. At the time of eviction some veterans had planted maize and rice while others had just cleared land on top of felling trees for timber.
