Bunyoro premier faults local leaders for abetting environmental abuse

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Amid a growing charcoal and timber trade that has led to widespread loss of tree cover across the region, the prime minister of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom has faulted local leaders for fuelling environmental destruction.

Andrew Byakutaga said such leaders are among the worst offenders, dragging the region backwards by facilitating the cutting down of trees.

Byakutaga said local leaders, from village level to district, are actively engaged in issuing receipts, movement documents and authorisation orders to environmental degraders.

His remarks come as concern grows over the scale of environmental degradation across the region.

Byakutaga urged residents to safeguard the environment, noting that the kingdom is also involved in restoring natural forests as communities begin to feel the effects of climate change.

"As a kingdom, we are concerned about the increased destruction of the environment and we are asking our people to respect the environment and preserve natural forests like Bugoma and Budongo forests," Byakutaga said.

The Bunyoro Kitara kingdom, MTN Uganda and World Wide Fund for Nature on Thursday (March 26) launched a 12.4-acre sustainable woodlot in Kikuube district, linking environmental conservation to youth skills development in one of Uganda’s fastest-growing economic zones.

The project, unveiled at St Joseph Vocational Training Institute in Munteme, Kabwoya subcounty, aims to restore degraded land while embedding climate awareness into vocational training.

Ibrahim Senyonga, general manager enterprise business unit at MTN Uganda, said the initiative reflects a shift from symbolic participation to long-term environmental investment.

"When WWF Uganda invited us, we recognised this as a call to invest in something lasting," said  Senyonga. "This woodlot represents a joint commitment to youth, forests and Uganda’s future."

Senyonga said the site will serve as a practical learning environment where students can integrate environmental stewardship with technical skills training. He added that this approach is intended to position young people as active participants in climate solutions rather than passive beneficiaries.

He noted that Uganda continues to grapple with deforestation and land degradation, driven by energy demand and population growth, and said community-based woodlots can help rebuild forest cover while supporting livelihoods.

He added that the initiative builds on Uganda’s earlier role in hosting the world’s first Earth Hour Forest in 2013, positioning the country as a regional leader in grassroots climate action.

Annet Proscovia Mugisa, the district natural resources officer for Kikuube, said the district, located in the Albertine Graben, is central to Uganda’s oil and gas development, raising concerns about environmental sustainability as industrial activity expands.

Mugisa said the project underscores the need to balance economic growth with ecological protection.

She added that environmental crimes are being abetted by some local leaders and security personnel in the district.

"Last week, together with the police, we arrested some village chairpersons who had authorized people to encroach on natural resources and they are currently being detained by police in Kikuube," he said.

Mugisa further said large sections of natural forest were cleared to establish refugee settlements, while remaining areas have been depleted by charcoal burning and tobacco farming.

Under the global Earth Hour movement, individuals, businesses and organisations the world over, are expected to switch off non-essential lights at 8:30 pm on March 28, 2026, to support environmental conservation.

The 20th anniversary of the global movement is focused on promoting energy transition, sustainability, and nature protection.