Rose firm threatens Lutembe bird haven

Apr 20, 2003

IT is a favoured destination for over two million migratory birds from Europe during winter. The bay, however, is facing a serious threat. One of the four flower farms on the shores of Lake Victoria, Rosebud Ltd., has begun massive encroachment on the bay in an expansion move.

By Gerald Tenywa

IT is a favoured destination for over two million migratory birds from Europe during winter.

The white-winged black terns escape the chilly conditions every winter in Europe and perch on the marshlands at Lutembe Bay on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Experts say the Lutembe bird sanctuary has earned global fame. This is where the birds get food and roost as they wait for suitable weather to go back to Europe in time for breeding.

They also say the huge population of birds, at the bay, 16km from Kampala, creates potential for tourism.

The bay, however, is facing a serious threat.

One of the four flower farms on the shores of Lake Victoria, Rosebud Ltd., has begun massive encroachment on the bay in an expansion move.

“We were shocked to discover that they have constructed a road through the swamp,’’ says Achilles Byaruhanga, the chief executive officer of Nature Uganda, a local NGO and a partner of BirdLife International.

Byaruhanga was on routine monitoring when he stumbled upon the road that runs from the mainland to the middle of the bay.

People were filling up the road with tonnes of murrum.

Byaruhanga said Nature Uganda and another local group had been promoting the site for eco-tourism and their efforts had started bearing fruit.

“This has become the hottest bird watching spot for water birds in Uganda,’’ he says.

Byaruhanga says many tourists go through Lutembe to and from Entebbe International Airport.

Dr. Panta Kasoma, who heads Nature Uganda, petitioned the National Environment Management Authority protesting the act.

“This action can only be described as unfortunate for the site and our country,’’ Kasoma said in the March 25 letter.

Kasoma said Nature Uganda undertook research on biological diversity by using birds as an indicator and 30 areas, including Lutembe, were named as Important Bird Areas (IBAs).

“It is an important migration stop-over for migratory birds and regularly holds what is believed to be the world population of the entire species, the white-winged black terns,’’ he said.

Rosebud belongs to tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia, whose projects, such as the Speke Resort and country lodge, Munyonyo, destroyed wetlands on the lakeshores. He was not available for comment.

Research reveals that Lutembe holds more than five species of birds that qualify the area as a Ramsar site. A profile for Ramsar listing was recently completed.

Ramsar is an Iranian city where a global convention on wetlands was signed three decades ago.

Recent surveys have also discovered a rare species of plant (Aeschynomene species) that is not known to occur anywhere in East and Central Africa says Kasoma.

Byaruhanga said Lutembe is a critical habitat essential for the protection of migratory birds, which is inevitable if the site gets destroyed.

“The birds survive because they breed and escape the harsh winter conditions. They come to Lutembe in October and depart in April, the following year,’’ he said.

The tiny birds flocking together scare away predators, which helps them to fly for long distances.

“If any of their habitats becomes degraded then the entire population is at the risk of being destroyed,’’ Byaruhanga said.

Byaruhanga insisted that NEMA, as the environmental watchdog, is duty-bound to check and monitor the activities of companies working in the vicinity of ecologically sensitive areas.

NEMA’s executive director, Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha, said the organisation had ordered Rosebud Ltd to stop their activities and to restore the wetland.

He said NEMA issued a restoration order and that they would ensure Rosebud removes the murrum.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});