Felling of Bugoma Forest begins

Efforts to conserve the Bugoma Central Forest Reserve have apparently gone to waste. The clearing of the natural resource for sugarcane growing kicked off last Saturday.

The forest is found in Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district.

"Bugoma forest is now destined for extinction, like the dodo bird, which, at one time, was also endemic to Africa,"

John Kusiima, an ecologist and a resident of Kyangwali, said.

In 2016, Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom gazetted a 22-square mile piece of land and leased it to Hoima Sugar Limited for sugarcane growing at sh3.9b for 99 years.

The National Forestry Authority (NFA), however, said the land is part of Bugoma forest, which was gazetted in 1932. Subsequently, NFA dragged Bunyoro-Kitara king, Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru in whose name the land title is, to court.

They want the court to pronounce that the land is part of Bugoma central forest reserve and that it was wrongfully titled.

But before the court disposes of the case, the destruction has started.

According to environmentalists, the land is home to chimpanzees, indigenous trees, elephants, insects, endangered bird species, the Nathan's Francolin and American grey parrots.

It is also a migratory route for wild animals, connecting to game parks and a catchment area for rivers that drain into Lake Albert and River Nguse, where government plans to build a hydro-power dam.

Situated near the Kingfisher oil field, it is expected to play a key role in absorbing the greenhouse gas emissions during oil drilling and also act as a rain modifier, to boost agriculture.

The people clearing the forest are being guarded by security.

On August 14, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) approved the Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report by the sugar firm to utilise the land for growing sugarcane.

In the approved ESIA, NEMA reduced the acreage for sugarcane growing from the initial 22 square miles to only nine square miles.

NEMA also gave a nod to the sugar firm to establish an urban centre on 1.26 square miles, an eco-tourism centre on 1.97 square miles and restore 3.13 square miles of Bugoma forest.

They ordered Hoima Sugar to preserve 0.156 hectares for the cultural sites and conserven6.17 square miles as a natural forest.

A source within NFA told New Vision that the sugar firm had started working from the middle of the forest, moving towards the road.

The source also indicated the presence of the Police's Field Force Unit personnel, as well as those of Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) in Kololo and Nyairongo patches.

Ecologists have warned of consequences, such as loss of species, reduction of the ability of the forest to provide clean air and water, rain modification for agriculture and climate regulation.

Nebert Kasozi, a conservation manager with the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust in Hoima, says Bugoma, being a tropical forest, has chimpanzees.

Kasozi says any change in the habitat will affect chimps that depend on the forest as a habitat.

In addition, he says, chimps love sugarcane and, he, therefore, foresees a human-wildlife conflict.

He says as a result of the conflict, the sugar firm could be forced to exterminate the chimps. Kasozi bases his assertion on the complaints they have so far received fromnout-growers in Munteme, Bubogo and Kaseta parishes, which neighbour Bugoma forest.

He said the residents of those parishes say chimps eat their sugarcane.

Moses Semahunge, the project manager for Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project, an organisation that deals in the conservation of chimpanzees, said once the forest is cleared, the area will lose herbal medicines that are found in the forest.

Esteri Kabanyoro, a resident of Kabwoya, says the forest has been their main source of non-timber products, such as firewood, honey and mushrooms.

Phillip Kihumuro, an environmentalist in Hoima, says by clearing the destruction of the forest, Uganda is falling short on its commitment to protect the environment.

What can be done?

PhilliP Kihumuro, a citizen and an environmentalist in Hoima, urges the Government to invoke the climate easement policy, where one is paid to stop the destruction of and also for maintaining a forest.

He also cites the National Environmental Act, 2019, which, when enforced, the ecosystem will be maintained and effects of deforestation and degradation reversed, in order to regain the ecological, social and economic benefits of the forest for the future generation.

"Environmentalists say Bugoma forest is home to chimpanzees, indigenous trees, elephants, endangered bird species... and American grey parrots.