NFA to evict 900 from Kafu Forest Reserve  

Robert Owiny appealed to the illegal occupants to harvest their plants and vacate the forest reserve. Photo by Patrick Pariyo

The National Forest Authority (NFA) has ordered more than 900 people occupying Kafu Forest Reserve in Arua district to vacate the land to pave the way for private tree planting.

The contested land is located in the four villages of Ciaba, Vurra, Oliba in Logiri sub-county and Madua village in Eceko parish, Arivu sub-county, all in Arua district.

Robert Owiny, the NFA range manager in charge of West Nile region said Kafu was gazetted in 1952 for conservation.

"About 440 hectares in the reserve host fragile ecosystems such as rivers, streams and hills that need to be protected," he said.

Owiny made the remarks while addressing residents in a meeting on Thursday at the forest reserve. He said that before handing over the 30 blocks to private developers, the Government through NFA will have the blocks demarcated and reserve boundaries marked.

He appealed to the illegal occupants to harvest their plants and vacate the land with immediate effect.

Ben Otuma, 68, one of the occupants, said NFA should give them more time to harvest their crops before handing over to land.

"We encroached on the forest reserve because our land is infertile," Otuma said.

Felix Francis Edema, the Arivu sub-county chairperson, said the land belongs to the Government. He said most of the people in West Nile do not care about planting trees, yet they depend on wood and charcoal.

Mika Avubeing, the Arua community liaison officer, hailed NFA for sensitising residents before evicting them from the reserve.

He appealed to the residents to preserve the environment to attract more rain.