Mabira Forest petitioners meet Speaker
Apr 12, 2007
A COALITION of concerned citizens under the banner “Save Mabira Crusade†yesterday petitioned Parliament to halt the proposed degazettement of Mabira and other forests in the country.
By Milton Olupot,
Conan Businge
and Gerald Tenywa
A COALITION of concerned citizens under the banner “Save Mabira Crusade†yesterday petitioned Parliament to halt the proposed degazettement of Mabira and other forests in the country.
The group, led by Frank Muramuzi, of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists, yesterday presented the petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi.
The petition signed by about 100 environmentalists, also demands that Parliament enforces the High Court ruling on Butamira Forest in Jinja.
The forest was allocated to Kakira Sugar Works for cultivation of sugarcane, but court ruled in 2004 that the change of land use was done contrary to the Constitution.
The petition lists a number of other cases where the Government has degazetted forest reserves for commercial developments despite expert advice to the contrary.
Muramuzi argued that degazettment of forests for private commercial interests has not benefited neighbouring communities.
“Instead, exploitative conditions of the community are prevalent with little or no positive impact on their well being,’’ he added.
They stated that natural resources such as forests are not owned by the Government but it only holds them in public trust.
The petition adds that the Government is a signatory to international conventions on nature and should adhere to them.
Former presidential candidate Abed Bwanika warned of chaos over the forest give-away.
“We want to warn whoever will have a hand in this, that we shall fight them to the last. The Government has said drought has been key in curtailing our economic growth. What people are going to see today is just the beginning. We are not afraid.â€
Emmanuel Tumusiime, of the Forum for Integrity in Leadership, said the Government should respect the first article of the Constitution that gives the power to the people.
“This should mark the beginning of linking the environment to justice,†said Oweyagha Afunaduula, an environmental activist.
Ssekandi told the petitioners that Mabira had not yet been given away, but that an application had been made by Mehta for land within Mabira forest for sugarcane growing.
He promised objective debate by Parliament when the matter comes to the House.
“Let us not look at it prematurely. Government will handle this matter satisfactorily.â€
Ssekandi said the Forestry Act allows degazettement but added that maybe the law should be amended to bar degazettement.
He promised objective debate when the matter goes to the House.
Ssekandi urged the environmentalists to widen their scope of concern beyond Mabira and defend other smaller forests and natural resources.
Conan Businge
and Gerald Tenywa
A COALITION of concerned citizens under the banner “Save Mabira Crusade†yesterday petitioned Parliament to halt the proposed degazettement of Mabira and other forests in the country.
The group, led by Frank Muramuzi, of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists, yesterday presented the petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi.
The petition signed by about 100 environmentalists, also demands that Parliament enforces the High Court ruling on Butamira Forest in Jinja.
The forest was allocated to Kakira Sugar Works for cultivation of sugarcane, but court ruled in 2004 that the change of land use was done contrary to the Constitution.
The petition lists a number of other cases where the Government has degazetted forest reserves for commercial developments despite expert advice to the contrary.
Muramuzi argued that degazettment of forests for private commercial interests has not benefited neighbouring communities.
“Instead, exploitative conditions of the community are prevalent with little or no positive impact on their well being,’’ he added.
They stated that natural resources such as forests are not owned by the Government but it only holds them in public trust.
The petition adds that the Government is a signatory to international conventions on nature and should adhere to them.
Former presidential candidate Abed Bwanika warned of chaos over the forest give-away.
“We want to warn whoever will have a hand in this, that we shall fight them to the last. The Government has said drought has been key in curtailing our economic growth. What people are going to see today is just the beginning. We are not afraid.â€
Emmanuel Tumusiime, of the Forum for Integrity in Leadership, said the Government should respect the first article of the Constitution that gives the power to the people.
“This should mark the beginning of linking the environment to justice,†said Oweyagha Afunaduula, an environmental activist.
Ssekandi told the petitioners that Mabira had not yet been given away, but that an application had been made by Mehta for land within Mabira forest for sugarcane growing.
He promised objective debate by Parliament when the matter comes to the House.
“Let us not look at it prematurely. Government will handle this matter satisfactorily.â€
Ssekandi said the Forestry Act allows degazettement but added that maybe the law should be amended to bar degazettement.
He promised objective debate when the matter goes to the House.
Ssekandi urged the environmentalists to widen their scope of concern beyond Mabira and defend other smaller forests and natural resources.