NFA evicts Kyewaga encroachers
IN a bid to end the rampant encroachment on forest reserves, the National Forestry Authority on Tuesday destroyed several tonnes of bricks that had been made in Kyewaga Forest Reserve in <br>Entebbe.
By Ganzi Muhanguzi
IN a bid to end the rampant encroachment on forest reserves, the National Forestry Authority on Tuesday destroyed several tonnes of bricks that had been made in Kyewaga Forest Reserve in
Entebbe.
Hudson Andrua, the NFA boss, led a team of five forestry officials in the exercise that was protested by angry locals.
Sarah Bananuka, the Entebbe resident district commissioner and several local leaders tried to stop Andrua from carrying out the eviction in vain.
The residents accused the NFA officials of not warning them ahead of the exercise.
“I am a widow and this was my only source of income. How do they expect my children to survive?†Nnalongo, a resident of Kyewaga, lamented.
But Moses Watasa, the NFA publicist, said: “When a man destroys his environment, he destroys his life.†He argued that protecting the forest reserve was more beneficial to the locals than allowing them to engage in short-term projects that would destroy the environment.
The residents also accused some NFA officials of taking bribes to allow them use the forest but later turned their backs on them.
“Their officials were demanding for sh10,000 every week from us and in turn, we were allowed to mine sand and make these bricks,†one resident said. NFA officials implicated in this act include George Gashana, the sector manager, who is currently on suspension following similar charges of bribery, and Murangira, a former assistant forest officer.
“Murangira’s case is not new. In fact, I got to know of his dealings long ago and dismissed him. He no longer works for us,†Andrua said.
The locals said over 100 people were engaged in brickmaking within the forest and they vowed to frustrate the NFA activities.
“We are going to uproot the trees as soon as they are planted,†a resident said.
But Andrua advised them to engage in eco-tourism, which he said was economically viable.
IN a bid to end the rampant encroachment on forest reserves, the National Forestry Authority on Tuesday destroyed several tonnes of bricks that had been made in Kyewaga Forest Reserve in
Entebbe.
Hudson Andrua, the NFA boss, led a team of five forestry officials in the exercise that was protested by angry locals.
Sarah Bananuka, the Entebbe resident district commissioner and several local leaders tried to stop Andrua from carrying out the eviction in vain.
The residents accused the NFA officials of not warning them ahead of the exercise.
“I am a widow and this was my only source of income. How do they expect my children to survive?†Nnalongo, a resident of Kyewaga, lamented.
But Moses Watasa, the NFA publicist, said: “When a man destroys his environment, he destroys his life.†He argued that protecting the forest reserve was more beneficial to the locals than allowing them to engage in short-term projects that would destroy the environment.
The residents also accused some NFA officials of taking bribes to allow them use the forest but later turned their backs on them.
“Their officials were demanding for sh10,000 every week from us and in turn, we were allowed to mine sand and make these bricks,†one resident said. NFA officials implicated in this act include George Gashana, the sector manager, who is currently on suspension following similar charges of bribery, and Murangira, a former assistant forest officer.
“Murangira’s case is not new. In fact, I got to know of his dealings long ago and dismissed him. He no longer works for us,†Andrua said.
The locals said over 100 people were engaged in brickmaking within the forest and they vowed to frustrate the NFA activities.
“We are going to uproot the trees as soon as they are planted,†a resident said.
But Andrua advised them to engage in eco-tourism, which he said was economically viable.