NEMA moves to restore 12.77 square miles of degraded natural forest in Kikuube

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The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has launched the restoration of 12.77 square miles of degraded natural forest in Kyangwali subcounty, Kikuube district, to reverse years of environmental destruction and restore the area's original forest cover.

The affected land, currently covered by maize and other crops, belongs to Hoima Sugar Ltd and forms part of a wider environmental restoration programme implemented under NEMA's supervision.

The degraded area is part of the 22 square miles of Kyangwali ancestral land that was leased by the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom to Hoima Sugar Ltd for sugarcane growing for 99 years.

Over the years, the area was reportedly invaded by groups of people, including local residents, government officials and security personnel from both Bunyoro and other regions, who engaged in activities such as crop cultivation, charcoal burning and timber harvesting.

After acquiring the land in 2015, Hoima Sugar Ltd became involved in a legal dispute with the National Forestry Authority (NFA), which challenged the company's occupation of the land, arguing that it formed part of the Bugoma Forest Reserve.

However, on April 25, 2019, the High Court in Masindi ruled that Hoima Sugar Ltd was the rightful occupant of the 22 square miles of land.

Following the ruling, NEMA issued an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate to the company, permitting it to utilise only 9.24 square miles for sugarcane cultivation while preserving the remaining land for environmental conservation and related purposes.

Speaking during the launch of the Kyangwali Mixed Land Use Project in Nsozi Village, NEMA executive director Dr Barirega Akankwasah said that in August 2020, the authority authorised Hoima Sugar Ltd to use 9.24 square miles for sugarcane cultivation.

Dr Barirega Akankwasah, NEMA Executive Director, holding a spade while planting a tree as he launched the Kyangwali mixed land use project in Nsozi village. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

He explained that under the ESIA conditions, 1.2 square miles were allocated for the establishment of an urban centre, 1.9 square miles for an eco-tourism centre, 0.156 square miles for a cultural centre, and 6.17 square miles for a natural forest reserve and nature walks.

Dr Akankwasah said subsequent monitoring and evaluation exercises revealed that land earmarked for eco-tourism, cultural sites, nature walks and forest trails had been severely degraded.

According to him, Hoima Sugar Ltd denied responsibility for the destruction and attributed it to encroachment by members of the local community.

The NEMA chief said the extensive degradation prompted the authority to cancel the 2020 restoration plan and issue a new environmental restoration order to Hoima Sugar Ltd in 2022, requiring the company to restore all degraded sections as the registered landholder.

He explained that the implementation of the new restoration plan was delayed because it required extensive consultation and approval from multiple stakeholders.

Dr Akankwasah said NEMA eventually approved a revised restoration plan in December 2025, excluding the proposed urban centre because of concerns that it could accelerate environmental degradation.

He added that the Jane Goodall Institute was accredited as an independent third party to work alongside Hoima Sugar Ltd and oversee the implementation of the restoration programme.

“So, between 2020 and now we have been doing protracted evaluation of the eco-system restoration plan which had to be consulted on with the Kingdom, Kikuube local government, Ministry of water and environment and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) among others and under this, restoration order, we agreed that we accredit an independent institution to act as third party to oversee the restoration excise” he said.

Dr Akankwasah commended Hoima Sugar Ltd for embracing the restoration initiative and expressed optimism that the project would restore the area to its original ecological state.

“It’s a shame to be seeing maize plantation here, we only want to see forest and not maize in this landscape. The people of Kikuube, you need to know that you cannot survive without a forest.”

Rajasekaran Ramaddu, Hoima Sugar Ltd's agriculture director, said the company was committed to working with NEMA to ensure the successful restoration of the degraded ecosystem.

He revealed that tree planting had already been completed on three square miles of the affected land and that the company was focusing on indigenous tree species.

Kikuube acting district chairperson Vincent Opio welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important contribution towards environmental protection and conservation efforts in the district.

He said land degradation posed a threat not only to the environment but also to food security and urged local communities to embrace conservation efforts.

Kikuube resident district commissioner Godwin Angalia called on UWA and the Ministry of Water and Environment to develop a similar restoration programme for degraded sections of Bugoma Forest Reserve.

He described the Hoima Sugar initiative as timely and long overdue, adding that restoration of degraded forest areas had been one of the district's key priorities.

Agalia also commended stakeholders supporting the initiative, saying it complements ongoing district efforts to protect and conserve the environment.

Fred Kiiza, chief warden of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area, who represented UWA executive director Dr James Musinguzi, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard Bugoma Forest Reserve.

He noted that both the Hoima Sugar and MZ land areas appear in Bugoma Forest land records that were handed over to UWA by the government, adding that the matter is being handled at a higher level to harmonise the different claims.

Kiiza further revealed that UWA has deployed personnel across the area and that several individuals have already been arrested since the agency assumed management responsibilities.