NFA to meet encroachers
Jul 27, 2006
The long-standing dispute between the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and encroachers on south Busoga central forest reserve in Mayuge district will soon be history, NFA spokesperson Gaster Kiyingi has said.
By Frank Mugabi
The long-standing dispute between the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and encroachers on south Busoga central forest reserve in Mayuge district will soon be history, NFA spokesperson Gaster Kiyingi has said.
He said NFA had initiated talks with the encroachers and agreed on a harmonious plan of managing the reserve with economic rewards to the surrounding communities.
“We are giving the community an opportunity to plant trees in the reserve after acquiring permits.
He said during an interview recently that those with permits would own the trees and harvest them for sale when they matured.
He said the community had about 32.5 hectares of the total 65,000 hectares available for economic interventions.
“We are also offering them advice on the right seedlings to plant and seasoning. We will also advise them when it comes to marketing,†Kiyingi said.
He decried the wrangle for pitting the community against NFA staff, some of whom have been assaulted, and described the row as one of the biggest conflicts the NFA had faced in the last two years.
An NFA official, Caroline Kunihira, was once hijacked by the encroachers and her motorcycle burnt. She was missing for about eight hours and reappeared with a deformed face.
Kiyingi blamed the conflict on middlemen, who told the community that the land belonged to them before it was gazetted.
“The so called elders were instead fuelling the conflict. After opening direct talks with the people, we are now at par,†he said.
Ends
The long-standing dispute between the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and encroachers on south Busoga central forest reserve in Mayuge district will soon be history, NFA spokesperson Gaster Kiyingi has said.
He said NFA had initiated talks with the encroachers and agreed on a harmonious plan of managing the reserve with economic rewards to the surrounding communities.
“We are giving the community an opportunity to plant trees in the reserve after acquiring permits.
He said during an interview recently that those with permits would own the trees and harvest them for sale when they matured.
He said the community had about 32.5 hectares of the total 65,000 hectares available for economic interventions.
“We are also offering them advice on the right seedlings to plant and seasoning. We will also advise them when it comes to marketing,†Kiyingi said.
He decried the wrangle for pitting the community against NFA staff, some of whom have been assaulted, and described the row as one of the biggest conflicts the NFA had faced in the last two years.
An NFA official, Caroline Kunihira, was once hijacked by the encroachers and her motorcycle burnt. She was missing for about eight hours and reappeared with a deformed face.
Kiyingi blamed the conflict on middlemen, who told the community that the land belonged to them before it was gazetted.
“The so called elders were instead fuelling the conflict. After opening direct talks with the people, we are now at par,†he said.
Ends