We can’t do without rain!
Sep 19, 2006
SIR — M. A. P. Olubo’s <br>letter “No problem, degazette Mabira forest†published on September 15, cannot go without challenge. Olubo supports President Museveni giving away Mabira forest so as ‘to create’ more jobs and grow sugarcane.
SIR — M. A. P. Olubo’s
letter “No problem, degazette Mabira forest†published on September 15, cannot go without challenge. Olubo supports President Museveni giving away Mabira forest so as ‘to create’ more jobs and grow sugarcane.
First of all, it has already been highlighted and the facts are available that Mehta has more acreage of land in Uganda than even Madhivani but produces less sugar. So the issue here is not land but efficient use of it.
Two, clearing Mabira forest to plant sugarcane will have an impact on the micro-climate of the area where it is found. Few people from Buganda where Mabira is found are employed in the sugarcane growing (cutting) and related activities.
In fact most of these who work in sugarcane plantations are recruited from Arua and this may explain why Olubo is in so much favour for the forest to go so that his kin can have employment.
Giving away Mabira after Namanve has already been degazetted and turned into an industrial park is not wise at all. This is destroying the livelihood of of the people which depends on farming. With all forests gone we will have no rain. Lake Victoria and River Nile will dry up faster. We can go for a year without sugar but need the rain to grow our matooke, potatoes and cassava. Our forests must stay.
- Ssaalongo Kafeero,
Najjembe, Mukono
SIR — SCOUL no longer needs land because Buganda Kingdom has offered them a lot of it. I hope this saves Mabira forest.
- Name withheld
letter “No problem, degazette Mabira forest†published on September 15, cannot go without challenge. Olubo supports President Museveni giving away Mabira forest so as ‘to create’ more jobs and grow sugarcane.
First of all, it has already been highlighted and the facts are available that Mehta has more acreage of land in Uganda than even Madhivani but produces less sugar. So the issue here is not land but efficient use of it.
Two, clearing Mabira forest to plant sugarcane will have an impact on the micro-climate of the area where it is found. Few people from Buganda where Mabira is found are employed in the sugarcane growing (cutting) and related activities.
In fact most of these who work in sugarcane plantations are recruited from Arua and this may explain why Olubo is in so much favour for the forest to go so that his kin can have employment.
Giving away Mabira after Namanve has already been degazetted and turned into an industrial park is not wise at all. This is destroying the livelihood of of the people which depends on farming. With all forests gone we will have no rain. Lake Victoria and River Nile will dry up faster. We can go for a year without sugar but need the rain to grow our matooke, potatoes and cassava. Our forests must stay.
- Ssaalongo Kafeero,
Najjembe, Mukono
SIR — SCOUL no longer needs land because Buganda Kingdom has offered them a lot of it. I hope this saves Mabira forest.
- Name withheld