Mukono leaders offer Metha land
May 15, 2007
Mukono district local council leaders have offered to give the Metha Group land for sugarcane growing so that they can save Mabira Forest from destruction.
By Nicholas Kajoba
Mukono district local council leaders have offered to give the Metha Group land for sugarcane growing so that they can save Mabira Forest from destruction.
“We have to show President Museveni that much as we support him and the NRM party, we cannot be party to the destruction of our environment,†the district LC5 chairman, Livingstone Zziwa said on Friday.
He was speaking at a public dialogue organised by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment. The group’s executive director, Godber Tumushabe, said the dialogue was aimed at uniting stakeholders in the district to express their views on the proposed give-away of the forest.
The district Speaker, James Kunobwa, said they passed an ordinance objecting to the forest give-away to any investor.
“We have a lot of alternative land for Metha. If he wants land he should forget Mabira Reserve Forest. We shall give him the land he wants because we have it.â€
He noted that over 30,000 residents had registered at the district department of agriculture for sugarcane growing.
He added that many farmers had shown interest in growing sugarcane because of agricultural programmes like NAADS and the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture.
Achilles Byaruhanga, the executive director of Nature Uganda, noted: “Mabira is a major forest that forms a ring to protect Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga and River Nile.
“It is also a catchment for small rivers and streams that serve many people in Mukono and neighbouring districts.â€
He added that the forest is a source of medicine, food and tourism.
Mukono district local council leaders have offered to give the Metha Group land for sugarcane growing so that they can save Mabira Forest from destruction.
“We have to show President Museveni that much as we support him and the NRM party, we cannot be party to the destruction of our environment,†the district LC5 chairman, Livingstone Zziwa said on Friday.
He was speaking at a public dialogue organised by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment. The group’s executive director, Godber Tumushabe, said the dialogue was aimed at uniting stakeholders in the district to express their views on the proposed give-away of the forest.
The district Speaker, James Kunobwa, said they passed an ordinance objecting to the forest give-away to any investor.
“We have a lot of alternative land for Metha. If he wants land he should forget Mabira Reserve Forest. We shall give him the land he wants because we have it.â€
He noted that over 30,000 residents had registered at the district department of agriculture for sugarcane growing.
He added that many farmers had shown interest in growing sugarcane because of agricultural programmes like NAADS and the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture.
Achilles Byaruhanga, the executive director of Nature Uganda, noted: “Mabira is a major forest that forms a ring to protect Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga and River Nile.
“It is also a catchment for small rivers and streams that serve many people in Mukono and neighbouring districts.â€
He added that the forest is a source of medicine, food and tourism.