Hima eyes game park lime deposits
Sep 04, 2005
GOVERNMENT is considering an application by Hima Cement Industry to exploit deposits of lime in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. <br>If granted, this would threaten wildlife including endangered elephants and primates.
By Gerald Tenywa
GOVERNMENT is considering an application by Hima Cement Industry to exploit deposits of lime in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
If granted, this would threaten wildlife including endangered elephants and primates.
Reports, indicate that the strip of land in the northern tip of the park covering 250 acres in Kamwenge district has large deposits of limestone under the lush vegetation. This area is also used as a migratory route or corridor for elephants and primates moving between Queen Elizabeth and Kibaale National Parks.
But Hima Cement Factory says the reserves are needed to provide limestone for their expansion drive. They say they need it for their long-term survival to meet the rising demand for cement in the local market and for export into virgin markets such as Southern Sudan and the DRCongo.
Moses Mapesa, head of UWA confirmed in a recent interview that Hima had indicated that they want to exploit the deposits. “We have to decide the fate of this part of the park because the investors are pushing for mining activities,†Mapesa said adding that negotiations were still on going.
However, he said they would conclusively deal with the issue when the investors are done with an environment impact assessment (EIA).
EIA entails finding out the likely benefits and negative effects of proposed activities. It also suggests alternative courses of action and mitigation measures to ensure that the activities proceed with minimum impact to the environment. However, it is also a basis for clearing a project, stopping or modifying it.
Discussions with the policy advocacy groups, including the Uganda Wildlife Society, which has interacted with the EIA team reveals reservations about conversion of the area into a mine.
Jacob Manyindo, UWS’ senior researcher says the effects could be even worse if cheap alternatives to mining, like open casting, are applied. He said the dust and noise pollution would scare away the animals from that part of the migratory corridor.
Quarrying is likely to pollute Lake George because the rainwater run-off and the streams together with the rivers feeding the lake are likely to wash down some of the chemicals from the mines.
Paul Mafabi, head of the Wetlands Inspection Division in the Ministry of Environment, said the northern part of Lake George is recognised as a wetland of global importance (Ramsar site).
He said the whole Lake George is to be turned into a Ramsar site ahead of the global meeting on wetlands to be held in Uganda in November.
Achilles Byaruhanga who heads Nature Uganda, a partner of BirdLife International said UWA and the Wetlands Inspection Division have to resolve this matter. “I have interacted with the investors and they want to begin as soon as possible,†he said adding there were environmental concerns that cannot be ignored.
UWS is asking why the quarrying activities were not considered when UWA and its partners were formulating a management plan for the Queen Elizabeth National Park. They say investors should not have any claim to the park because it is a gazetted area.
A concession to mine limestone in the park, they argue, would be illegal because the land is held in trust for the people of Uganda. This is because a concession should be allowed only in cases where the land-use is not altered.
Over the last five years, Hima Cement factory has invested more than $15m (sh270b) in expanding its production facilities. This has seen the plant’s production capacity rise to over 300,000 tonnes from 170,000 tonnes, according to a recent report.
They also want to shake off the scarcity of cement that has confined as “a net importer of cement.†There are also new markets in southern Sudan and the DRCongo, which are fertile for the investors to earn a quick buck.
They obtained a lease from the National Enterprise Corporation, the investment arm of the army to mine limestone more than five years ago.
The report from Hima indicates that the Dura limestone deposit has been utilised for both lime-making and cement since the 1950s with the activity in this area as recent as five years ago.
UWA officials encountered this mine after the opening of the boundaries of Queen Elizabeth Park in 2001, part of this quarry lies inside the park.
“There are open cast quarries, which is evidence that the mine has ever run,†Hima officials conceded in an interview.
Whether UWA gives a concession or not is like “a double-edged sword.†The investors say they would provide employment for many people.
On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth Park, which is about 2,000 square kilometres is endowed with plenty of wildlife including rare species of birds and is an important tourism destination. The tourism sector with revenue worth $200 (sh360b) last year has now become the top earner to the country’s coffers.
GOVERNMENT is considering an application by Hima Cement Industry to exploit deposits of lime in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
If granted, this would threaten wildlife including endangered elephants and primates.
Reports, indicate that the strip of land in the northern tip of the park covering 250 acres in Kamwenge district has large deposits of limestone under the lush vegetation. This area is also used as a migratory route or corridor for elephants and primates moving between Queen Elizabeth and Kibaale National Parks.
But Hima Cement Factory says the reserves are needed to provide limestone for their expansion drive. They say they need it for their long-term survival to meet the rising demand for cement in the local market and for export into virgin markets such as Southern Sudan and the DRCongo.
Moses Mapesa, head of UWA confirmed in a recent interview that Hima had indicated that they want to exploit the deposits. “We have to decide the fate of this part of the park because the investors are pushing for mining activities,†Mapesa said adding that negotiations were still on going.
However, he said they would conclusively deal with the issue when the investors are done with an environment impact assessment (EIA).
EIA entails finding out the likely benefits and negative effects of proposed activities. It also suggests alternative courses of action and mitigation measures to ensure that the activities proceed with minimum impact to the environment. However, it is also a basis for clearing a project, stopping or modifying it.
Discussions with the policy advocacy groups, including the Uganda Wildlife Society, which has interacted with the EIA team reveals reservations about conversion of the area into a mine.
Jacob Manyindo, UWS’ senior researcher says the effects could be even worse if cheap alternatives to mining, like open casting, are applied. He said the dust and noise pollution would scare away the animals from that part of the migratory corridor.
Quarrying is likely to pollute Lake George because the rainwater run-off and the streams together with the rivers feeding the lake are likely to wash down some of the chemicals from the mines.
Paul Mafabi, head of the Wetlands Inspection Division in the Ministry of Environment, said the northern part of Lake George is recognised as a wetland of global importance (Ramsar site).
He said the whole Lake George is to be turned into a Ramsar site ahead of the global meeting on wetlands to be held in Uganda in November.
Achilles Byaruhanga who heads Nature Uganda, a partner of BirdLife International said UWA and the Wetlands Inspection Division have to resolve this matter. “I have interacted with the investors and they want to begin as soon as possible,†he said adding there were environmental concerns that cannot be ignored.
UWS is asking why the quarrying activities were not considered when UWA and its partners were formulating a management plan for the Queen Elizabeth National Park. They say investors should not have any claim to the park because it is a gazetted area.
A concession to mine limestone in the park, they argue, would be illegal because the land is held in trust for the people of Uganda. This is because a concession should be allowed only in cases where the land-use is not altered.
Over the last five years, Hima Cement factory has invested more than $15m (sh270b) in expanding its production facilities. This has seen the plant’s production capacity rise to over 300,000 tonnes from 170,000 tonnes, according to a recent report.
They also want to shake off the scarcity of cement that has confined as “a net importer of cement.†There are also new markets in southern Sudan and the DRCongo, which are fertile for the investors to earn a quick buck.
They obtained a lease from the National Enterprise Corporation, the investment arm of the army to mine limestone more than five years ago.
The report from Hima indicates that the Dura limestone deposit has been utilised for both lime-making and cement since the 1950s with the activity in this area as recent as five years ago.
UWA officials encountered this mine after the opening of the boundaries of Queen Elizabeth Park in 2001, part of this quarry lies inside the park.
“There are open cast quarries, which is evidence that the mine has ever run,†Hima officials conceded in an interview.
Whether UWA gives a concession or not is like “a double-edged sword.†The investors say they would provide employment for many people.
On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth Park, which is about 2,000 square kilometres is endowed with plenty of wildlife including rare species of birds and is an important tourism destination. The tourism sector with revenue worth $200 (sh360b) last year has now become the top earner to the country’s coffers.