Minister Kyambadde orders forest encroachers to vacate

By Jeff Andrew Lule & Saudha Nakandha

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde has ordered people occupying forest reserves in Mpigi district, to vacate before forceful measures are taken.

She said the move was aimed at enhancing efforts to protect the environment and natural resources that can also lead to development.

Kyambadde who was on her constituency tour in Mawokota North last week, argued that encroachment hinders development of Government programmes.

“Government has opened up a force against those settling or practicing farming in the forests. Do not come running to me when they come to you, I cannot go against Government on this,” she warned.

This comes at a time when the National forestry Authority (NFA) is seeking to fulfil a Presidential directive issued in January last year to evict all encroachers from the reserves, following massive encroachment.

Kyambadde cited Mpanga and Muduuma forest reserves which have been encroached on by locals.

She advised residents to respect government orders to leave forest reserves.

Last month, about 350 families were evicted from Matiri forest reserve in Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts following a High Court order in Fort Portal.

In 2006, President Museveni also ordered for a halt on the eviction of forest encroachers, arguing that the government had to first make consultations with all stakeholders. Currently there are over 300,000 forest encroachers in Uganda.