Butamiira payments start

THE Government has started compensating permit holders in the Butamiira forest reserve in Buyengo sub-county, Jinja district.Jonathan Angura reports that the exercise started on Monday with the first group receiving a total of sh300m.The exercise was conducted by the commissioner for forestry, Deo Byarugaba, at the Busoga Square. The beneficiaries totalling 96 were organised in groups of five and 10 members.They received their cheques ranging from sh1.5m to sh5m.In March, the Parliament approved the Government’s move to degazette Butamiira forest reserve for sugarcane growing.The move met stiff opposition from the affected people, Busoga kingdom government and local politicians. Over 170 permit holders had occupied and planted trees on the 1,217 hectare reserve and their permits, which were issued last year, were valid for five years.Recipients in jubilant mood led by the pressure group chairman, Mr. Siraji Waiswa, surrendered their permits to Byarugaba. Jinja resident district commissioner, Deo Kayongo witnessed the signing of the cheques.Byarugaba said the evaluation exercise for the trees of the remaining 86 permit holders starts on Friday.He warned that those who will not have surrendered their permits for the evaluation in two weeks will have them cancelled and lose ownership of the developments made in the reserve.