UGANDA, Entebbe | Real Muloodi News | Former Vice President Prof Gilbert Baali-Baseka Bukenya, recently appointed Senior Presidential Advisor on Environment, has directed efforts to address the degradation of Kitubulu Forest in Katabi Town Council.
Bukenya, accompanied by his team, conducted an inspection of various areas within the forest, including the Guda Landing site and adjacent locations near the Katabi Town Council offices.
During the inspection, Bukenya expressed concern over the unauthorised parcelling out of portions of the forest to individuals and companies for private development, despite the government’s moratorium on the de-gazettement of forest land.
Officials from the National Forestry Authority (NFA), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Entebbe Municipal Council, Ministry of Water, Lands, and Environment, and a civil society group focusing on the environment were invited to participate in the inspection.
At the Guda Landing site, residents identified individuals and companies holding land titles within the forest, including a cabinet minister and entities such as Megha Industries, Mulkin Enterprises Limited, New Nordic (U) Ltd, and Tripo Sound Investment Ltd. However, the claims could not be independently verified.
Tom Okello, the Executive Director of NFA, revealed that action had been taken to cancel six titles in the area, but new titles were subsequently issued.
He expressed frustration with the challenges encountered in addressing such cases, citing instances of titles being created without proper surveying procedures and coordination with relevant departments.
Okello highlighted the complexities involved in cancelling disputed titles, including legal hurdles and resistance from title holders.
Despite efforts by ULC to engage title holders in resolving disputes, some individuals choose to evade hearings and resort to legal proceedings, further prolonging the process.
Bukenya emphasised the need to prosecute public officials involved in corrupt practices related to land transactions within the forest
In addition to land encroachment, concerns were raised about illegal sand mining and garbage dumping, posing significant environmental threats.
Stephen David Mugabi, Acting Director of Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Water, Lands, and Environment, underscored the importance of enforcing environmental standards and addressing waste management issues in the forest.
He mentioned the need for policies to regulate waste disposal, particularly concerning non-biodegradable materials such as used diapers.
Entebbe Divisional Police Commander Kenneth Muhairwe Musinguzi assured Bukenya of ongoing efforts to apprehend and prosecute offenders, including sand miners and individuals involved in illegal activities within the forest.
Bukenya also expressed disapproval of replanting efforts using non-indigenous tree species such as eucalyptus, emphasising the importance of restoring the forest with native tree species.
He pledged support for initiatives such as the ROOTS program, aimed at planting forty million trees to restore degraded forest areas.
Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve, spanning 80 hectares, has already faced encroachment on six hectares of land, with additional threats posed by illegal activities and disputed land titles held by influential individuals and entities.
The efforts initiated by Bukenya aim to address these challenges and protect the integrity of the forest reserve for future generations.
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