Nabbanja orders handover of Bugoma Forest to tourism ministry

________________

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has directed the Ministry of Water and Environment to immediately hand over Bugoma Central Forest to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to prevent further encroachment and degradation.

Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, located in Kikuube district in the Bunyoro sub-region, is reportedly facing serious degradation caused by human activities.

The directive follows a communication from President Yoweri Museveni directing that Bugoma Forest be protected from encroachers.

Nabbanja issued the directive on April 24, 2026, at her office in Kampala, where she held a meeting with tourism state minister Martin Mugarra, who was accompanied by Stuart Maniraguha, the executive director of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), and technical advisors from the water and environment ministry.

“I request the Ministry of Water and Environment to prepare documents showing the current acreage of land covering Bugoma Central Forest. You should be guided by the Attorney General Kirwoya Kiwanuka to prepare the legal documents of handing over the property to the Bungoma forest reserve,” Nabbanja said.

The Prime Minister said the water and environment ministry is responsible for developing policies and setting standards for environmental conservation. However, the ministry is facing constraints in managing natural resources.

“According to reports, apparently the ministry of water is constrained to protect the Bugoma forest,” said Nabbanja.

Museveni’s letter

President Museveni’s letter, dated February 23, 2026, and addressed to Prime Minister Nabbanja, was received on March 5, 2026, at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala.

The letter was also copied to Vice President Jessica Alupo, water and environment minister Sam Mangusho Cheptoris, the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

The letter, titled “ Halting Deforestation and degradation of Bugoma Central Forest Reserves and promoting sustainable utilisation,” reads in part:

“I have received a letter dated October 6, 2025, from [minister] Tom Butime regarding the degradation, deforestation and encroachment of the Bugoma Forest Reserve. All this must stop forthwith. I have also been informed that Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) is involved n in charcoal burning in the forest."

The President further directed the Chief of Defence Forces to investigate the alleged involvement of UPDF personnel in activities destroying the forest.

While instructing the Uganda Wildlife Authority to take over responsibility for protecting the forest, Museveni ordered the eviction of all encroachers without exception, noting that the encroachment is recent and deliberate, and warning that there should be no compensation, as this would promote impunity.

He also proposed upgrading Bugoma into a national park to ensure maximum protection, citing its importance to the ecosystem as a key water catchment area and for carbon absorption.