MPs vow to protect Mabira
Apr 09, 2007
THREE legislators have vowed to protect Mabira forest from being given away to Mehta Group of Companies for sugarcane growing, as proposed by the Government.
By Charles Kakamwa
THREE legislators have vowed to protect Mabira forest from being given away to Mehta Group of Companies for sugarcane growing, as proposed by the Government.
Ruth Tuma (Jinja Woman), Fred Nkayi (Kagoma) and Jimmy Akena (Lira Municipality) were on Saturday speaking at a graduation party for John Saire, Eva Kurwenza, Lydia Kurwenza and Mary Tibiwa at Kivubuka in Budondo sub-county.
Tuma said: “I do not think we have run short of land to necessitate the cutting down of forests to plant sugarcane. We shall sit as a party (NRM) and resolve the matter amicably.â€
She described conditions set by Mehta such as finding him a fertile piece of land nearby before leaving Mabira as ‘shameful’.
Nkayi urged the residents to stay calm, saying the issue would be debated in Parliament. “You don’t need to worry, remain calm. Mabira must stay.â€
The MPs were responding to remarks by Budondo LC3 chairman, Ivan Tibenkana, that leaders, whom he referred to as educated, had betrayed Ugandans by championing environmental degradation.
Akena said the Uganda People’s Congress MPs would do their best to ensure that the 7,100 hectares of the forest are not given to Metha’s Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd.
“As a party, we can not support schemes aimed at destroying our heritage. Mabira must be preserved,†he insisted.
THREE legislators have vowed to protect Mabira forest from being given away to Mehta Group of Companies for sugarcane growing, as proposed by the Government.
Ruth Tuma (Jinja Woman), Fred Nkayi (Kagoma) and Jimmy Akena (Lira Municipality) were on Saturday speaking at a graduation party for John Saire, Eva Kurwenza, Lydia Kurwenza and Mary Tibiwa at Kivubuka in Budondo sub-county.
Tuma said: “I do not think we have run short of land to necessitate the cutting down of forests to plant sugarcane. We shall sit as a party (NRM) and resolve the matter amicably.â€
She described conditions set by Mehta such as finding him a fertile piece of land nearby before leaving Mabira as ‘shameful’.
Nkayi urged the residents to stay calm, saying the issue would be debated in Parliament. “You don’t need to worry, remain calm. Mabira must stay.â€
The MPs were responding to remarks by Budondo LC3 chairman, Ivan Tibenkana, that leaders, whom he referred to as educated, had betrayed Ugandans by championing environmental degradation.
Akena said the Uganda People’s Congress MPs would do their best to ensure that the 7,100 hectares of the forest are not given to Metha’s Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd.
“As a party, we can not support schemes aimed at destroying our heritage. Mabira must be preserved,†he insisted.