Masaka Bosses Grab Forest Reserves â€" RDC

Sep 10, 2003

The Resident District Commissioner, Protazio Tugurihwayo, has stopped the clearing of forest reserves after discovering that some top district leaders had allocated themselves big chunks of the reserves,

The Resident District Commissioner, Protazio Tugurihwayo, has stopped the clearing of forest reserves after discovering that some top district leaders had allocated themselves big chunks of the reserves, Eddie Ssejjoba reports.

Tugurihwayo told a press conference at his office on Monday that the officials had contravened the Government procedures.

He said he had received complaints from residents that district leaders had taken over all the Government forest reserves in Buwunga and Kyanamukaaka sub-counties.

He said top district officials had taken over forest reserves in Kitasi, Kanamusabala, and Kyawabitembe sub-counties.

“The Government intended to give this land to residents to plant some tree species to replace the depleting natural forests. But I have discovered that top leaders have made self allocations secretly against the wishes of the residents,” he said.

He said some officials had registered some parts of the forest reserves under their sons’ names.

He said he had met with some key officials in the exercise and that allocation would be revisted.
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