NFA, CSOs clash over forest dependent communities

By Jeff Andrew Lule

THERE was a clash between National Forest Authority (NFA) and members of the Civil Society Organizations over the legality of communities settling in and around forest reserves.

While presenting their draft report titled; "Social Protection of Forest Dependent Communities" at a validation workshop in Kampala on Wednesday, the lead researcher, Ssanyu Ntongo said their findings show that majority of people living in and around forests were Forest Dependent Communities (FDC) who also need social protection to improve their livelihoods like other vulnerable groups instead of being evicted.

The study was done by Development Research and Training (DRT) in collaboration with Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) between March and April early this year.

It was done among 322 households in 29 villages, in five selected districts of Kalangala, Kaabong, Hoima, Hoima and Kisoro known to have a forest cover with possible communities living inside or adjacent to the forests.

Ntongo highlighted the IK group in Timu forest (Kaabong), cattle keepers in Kasagala Central forest reserve (Nakasogola), Batwa group around Bwindi forest, and communities surrounding Hoima, Kisoro and Kalanagala among others, saying majority of the people thrive on forests.

She noted that groups like the IK in Kaboong have lived inside the forest for centuries and entirely depend on forests.

"Other groups like those in Wabisi-Wajala and Kasagala forest reserves in Nakasongola have lived there for over 50 years having migrated from Lango. Such people have nowhere to go if evicted," she added.

According to the study some areas like in Hoima forests have been invaded by several immigrants especially from Kigezi and West Nile for settlement and agriculture.

She noted that despite the eviction of Batwa in Kisoro and restriction access for other community members, forests remain important facilitators of livelihoods. Community member still access bamboo sticks, climbing bean sticks, honey and herbs of which they add value and sell to tourists.

Charcoal burning was mainly sighted in Nakasongola while fishing was evident as the main activity in Kalangala.

She said in many of the areas people are isolated and live in perpetual fear of being evicted especially in Kalangala, Nakasongola, Hoima and Kosoro.

“These people also face confrontations and victmisation by NFA officials. In communities that live in forests and on hills, they don't have access to social amenities like schools, hospitals among others," she added.

Research shows that in many areas, children have to walk eight kilometer to the nearest health center and about 35kilometer to the nearest UPE school.

Other problems faced by the communities include wildlife attacks, cattle raids and cross boarder conflicts and extreme weather conditions among others.

Ntogo said there is need for social protection policy to address risks and vulnerabilities of forest dependent communities that are being evicted.

In his response, the director of cooperate affairs NFA, Paul Musamali dismissed the research findings, saying most people are living in forests illegally.

"We know the indigenous communities and we have our programs like Collaborative Forestry Management (CFM) where we work with communities to restore and preserve forests and we provide alternative livelihood initiatives," he added.

He said 92,000 hectares of forest are destroyed every year. Musamali said so far 29, 762 hectares are under restoration through CFM.

"We shall continue to work with communities but we shall continue to evict illegal encroachers in order to protect the forests," he added.

Annet Kandole, of Care International in Uganda, said there is need to first check the legality of the people living in forests before taking any action.

"We need to understand who is a forest dependant because some encroachers are politically motivated. Some of those people have where they come from like those who were evicted on Matiri forest reserve," she added.

The acting director social protection in the ministry of gender, Fred Onduri said they have already come up with a Social Protection Policy and would make sure that forest dependants are catered for.

"But many of people in forests are encroachers and not dependents. We have to be careful," he said.