Butamira Farmers Condemn MPs

By Robert Kanusu Butamira forest farmers have condemned district Members of Parliament from Jinja, who supported the move to sell part of the forest to the Madhvani Group for sugar cane production.The farmers met at Butamira forest offices to discuss the way forward after Parliament decided to give Kakira Sugar Works part of the forest and withdrew their (the farmers’) permits.The chairman of the Butamira pressure group, Lawrence Basoga, said they were not happy about the fact that some Jinja MPs had fought for the destruction of the forest.“MPs who betrayed us like the state minister for energy, Daudi Migereko, Bugabula North MP, Moses Kizige, Jinja municipality MPs, Nathan Igeme Nabeta and Harry Kasigwa, and the woman MP, Ruth Tuma. They have identified themselves as the people’s enemies and they do not deserve any respect in Busoga,” he said.The farmers vowed that they would not leave the forest until the high court made its decision. They promised to continue with the tree-planting programme.They said even if the government wanted to compensate them, it should have been done in a more transparent manner that was understood by all the stakeholders in the forest. They said even if they were to accept the compensation, the evaluation exercise was mishandled and as a result, majority of the affected farmers did not get a fair and realistic consideration.“The farmers should have been given a chance to consult their lawyers but they were contacted individually and at short notice,” Basoga said.They, however, hailed Kagoma MP, Dr, Frank Nabwiso for fighting for the liberation and empowerment of the people.Ends