PRESS RELEASE – SAVE BUGOMA FOREST CAMPAIGN – 2 MAY 2019

The civil society organizations, the tourism fraternity, all concerned citizens of Uganda and the whole world are here to respond to the threats faced by our natural resources, particularly Bugoma Forest in Kikuube District former Hoima District.

Background

Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, with 411 sq km or 41.144 hectares of protected area, is the largest remaining block of natural tropical forest along the Albertine Rift Valley found between Budongo and Semliki, therefore playing a great role in preserving the last remaining wildlife migratory corridors. Bugoma is home to about 500 chimpanzees (10% of the Ugandan chimpanzee population), making the forest a chimpanzee sanctuary. Among other primates, Bugoma hosts a population of Ugandan mangabeys, endemic to only this forest therefore a unique treasure. The bird list consists of 221 recorded species. Bugoma forest biodiversity surveys recorded 224 species of trees and shrubs which is higher than in any other forest in the region.

Speakers at the press conference 2nd May 2019: Onesmus Mugyenyi,
Edison Ashaka, Benedict Ntale. Moderator: Richard Kwere

High deforestation rate in Uganda has caused loss of 63% of forest cover only in the last 3 decades! This causes less carbon absorption and directly impacts the climate thus contributing to climate change. Degradation of the environment puts lives of people at stake owing to reduction of water sources, changing weather patterns and reduction of soil fertility. It is paramount for the health of all the population to maintain the existing forest cover.

However, in the last few years various threats are negatively impacting on Bugoma Forest survival and related investments, particularly:

1. The development of sugar cane plantations with the opening of Hoima Sugar Works in 2016, located next to the natural forest, crop which does not match at all with the nature of the forest habitat.

2. The issuing of land titles inside and outside the protected forest reserve, always on prime forested areas, causing encroachments with the support of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom officials and political leaders of Hoima District. Particularly, a businessman called Mr. Zaid Mustapha; on 20^th September 2018, he was issued a land title over an area of approximately 925 hectares of natural forest (2 km per 6 km) in the name of MZ Agencies. On 14^th October 2018 a grader was impounded after having tried to start clearing the said forest.  Later on, on 22^nd November 2018 Mr. Buryahika Stephen - who happens to be the chairperson LC3 of Kabwoya Sub County, where the forest is located - was given a land title for 51.45 hectares, also in a contested forested area. The said people were having meetings in the communities jointly with Chair Person LC5 of Hoima Mr. Kadir Kirungi (one meeting was held on 27^th January 2019), in which they explained that the interest of the land titles was to clear the natural forest and develop a sugar cane plantation.

3. Since August 2016 a legal battle has been going on in Masindi High Court, with National Forestry Authority accusing Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and Hoima Sugar Works of illegally claiming the Muhangaizima block of Bugoma Forest for about 8.000 hectares. On 1^st August 2016 a Freehold Certificate of Title was issued in the name of Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara and, subsequently, the leasehold was issued to Hoima Sugar Factory Limited. This court case ended on 25^th April 2019 with the victory of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and Hoima Sugar Works, who obtained recognition of their legal ownership of part of Bugoma Forest.

We would like to say that the mandate to judge over degazzetting a central forest reserve can only be vested in the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, not in any Court. We also condemn the fact that a political decision over the future of important biodiversity resources was left for four years to the judiciary. Political leaders didn’t intervene to resolve the matter.  

Insecurity of land tenure over Bugoma Forest and insecurity of the use of the land can only negatively affect the economic development in the area, the investment climate and the development of eco-tourism activities.

- Other challenges are the illegal logging and the prospective oil infrastructural development which will affect Bugoma Forest, including oil roads development, pipeline and refinery.

Hoima Sugar Works deployed 2 graders on 1st May 2019 to start clearing Bugoma Forest.

What is at stake?

1.            The conservation of Bugoma Forest in all its integrity is paramount for the livelihood of the local farmers’ communities, who are generally in support of the conservation as it is shown by the appeal they made in March 2019 when various local leaders signed the Petition to Ministry of Environment to halt the clearing of Bugoma Forest for sugar cane. Destruction and change in the use of the habitat will affect the climate, the water sources, the whole economy of the area, while in particular sugar cane will further degrade the area and increase humans / wildlife conflicts, as well as adversely affecting the soil and impoverishing local communities.

2.            The current development and investments in eco-tourism activities and tourist accommodation (Bugoma Jungle Lodge, new lodge in Mwera) in Bugoma Forest will be compromised by the destruction of the habitat and the poor image of Bugoma forest resulting from lack of rule of law. Investors in eco-tourism and conservation have much to complain about. Eco-tourism development started only in 2016 and is bringing revenues for about 20.000.000 UGX to National Forestry Authority.

3.            The chimpanzee and Ugandan mangabeys population of Bugoma Forest will be negatively affected, contributing to a poor image of Uganda in the world, as these species are internationally recognized as well as the importance of Bugoma Forest. Chimpanzee and mangabeys conservation projects are on-going with the objective to start new eco-tourism activities, which will increase revenues to the government, to the communities through sharing and more job opportunities.

4.            The conservation efforts by many organizations in and around Bugoma Forest, having various projects in tree – planting, farmers support, socio – economic supports to vulnerable communities including refugees in the area will be frustrated by a clear set back.

5.            The presence of a very dangerous sugar cane lobby, which attracted the favours of some local leaders and institutions (but certainly not the support of the people) and feels no objection in attacking a natural habitat of international biodiversity importance, will always be a threat to other positive investments in the area, investments that could create more job opportunities in a very poor socio-economic region.

6.            The degradation in the area with the prospected loss of part of the forest will trigger further escalation of degradation, further loss of habitat and endangering the biodiversity, moreover increasing the cases of all the illegalities that affected Bugoma Forest. This factor is crucial.

7.            The game played by various actors saying that Bugoma Forest has no clear boundaries, with the intention to grab both the protected forest and any other private forest does not help the solution of the problem, which is the preservation of the environment and its economic value.

8.            In the end Uganda will lose credibility in the respect and implementation of International Conventions as mentioned above.

Recommendations

1.         Bugoma Forest must be protected as it is, no matter where the exact boundaries are. An appeal must be made against the ruling of Masindi High Court with immediate effect to avoid and halt any forest’s clearing.

2.         Bugoma forest and local communities need development, which can be an opportunity when there is certainty of land use and ownership by the government of Uganda. The government of Uganda must re-establish its ownership of the entire central forest reserve without “if” and without “but”.

3.         The local communities and their leaders should be part of the process of development and not victims of the intimidations by the sugar cane lobby and their connections. National Forestry Authority must commit itself in the development of eco-tourism and income –sharing with communities, encouraging stakeholders to invest more.

4.         The Government of Uganda should immediate intervene to reassure the protection of Bugoma forest and to reassure the investments in eco-tourism and in accommodation in the area.

5.         Sugar cane development should not take place at the expense of natural resources. There is enough land in Bunyoro to accommodate sugar cane, without destroying vital natural resources. Hoima Sugar Works should desist from threatening Bugoma Forest eco-system and should desist from using local institutions and leaders to push forward its interests.

6.            Uganda should respect the international conventions and protocols on environmental conservation to which the country is signatory.

With the only objective to work on implementing these recommendation, to sensitize the public and the media, to inform the international and national communities about the dramatic danger behind the threats to Bugoma Forest, a coalition campaign is formed and launched under the name “Save Bugoma Forest Campaign”, which is the united efforts of all the organizations and associations of the conservation sector as well as the private and tourism sector.

SAVE BUGOMA FOREST CAMPAIGN

E-mail: savebugoma@gmail.com 

Organizations subscribing:

Uganda Tourism Association, Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Association of Uganda Tour Guides, Association of Uganda Travel Agents, Uganda Jungle Lodges Ltd, Rosaline Place LTD, Destination Jungle Ltd, NGO Uganda Coalition, Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest, Association of Scouts of Uganda, Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Joint Energy and Environment Projects (JEEP), Tree Talk Plus, Care International, ACODE, Youth Leading Environment Change (YLEC), Bugoma Chimpanzee Project, Eco-trust, NAPE.

No way for forest encroachment: Run for Nature 2019

The Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest is organizing this third edition of the annual Run for Nature on 31st March 2019, having the objective to continue the struggle to sensitize the public over urgent environmental topics and as a fund raising for the projects of the Association.

Press conference of 15th March 2019, Uganda Museum

We have been working all these years, since the start in 2014 at the time of the Bugoma Forest Conservation Campaign, to understand and fight all the causes of the degradation of Bugoma Forest in Hoima District. With its 411 sq km of protected area, Bugoma Forest is home to endangered species like the chimpanzees and the Ugandan mangabeys, as well as endemic species of birds. We opened the nursery bed of indigenous tree species that helped many farmers in the area of Kabwoya sub-County (Igwanjura and Kimbugo Parishes) to plant trees and protect water sources. On 21^st March 2017 in the occasion of the International Day of Forest our Association launched the ultimatum against illegal loggers and started the project of the “Chimp T-RAP patrol”, a unit of people working to monitor and discover illegalities in the protected reserve. The success of the first 2 years of this project is clear: illegal logging decreased by probably more than 60%. This results was possible thanks to the continuous involvement of communities and their leaders in the area and thanks to a strong collaboration with the staff of the National Forestry Authority. Our team leader risked his life in two occasions, attacked by illegal loggers, but he never gave up and still leads the team. No media, no television gave any tribute to these young people coming from a poor community, spending their life to protect the forest, never attempted by any corruption. That is why we remember them now here and even today they are in the forest patrolling.

Dr. Joshua Rukundo, Chimpanzee Sanctuary
& Wildlife Conservation Trust

The hope was that Bugoma Forest could become a different place than an open carpentry: a place for conservation of the biodiversity, for eco-tourism development, for new opportunities. In 2019 we are moving further on the side of the local communities, listening to their needs through their associations and organizations. They are the ones demanding for a better development in the area. We are now preparing the project for the dissemination of agro-forestry practices and the environmental education for the youth in the State Schools of Kisaaru and Nsozi. This will help addressing the problems of the co-existence between farming and the presence of a tropical forest. It is clear since 2016 that sugar cane expansion cannot bring development in the area: on the contrary it would bring soil depletion, environmental degradation and human impoverishment. Eco-tourism activities have also started on a low scale since 2016, organized by National Forestry Authority and the presence of newly open Bugoma Jungle Lodge is helping the process. However, much more should be done to organize eco-tourism activities that will attract more tourism in the forest.

Run for Nature is also this: we run together, different people from different sectors, as we also try to have a dialogue and build up a future. We take this opportunity to call the institutions of the environment, the tourism and wildlife to talk and come to better joint solutions for the protection of forests and the endangered species like the chimpanzees and Ugandan mangabeys. 

We chose the date of 15^th March 2019 for our launch because today is taking place the biggest mobilization in the world against climate change. Today is “Friday for Future”, the movement of the students, who are meeting in 98 countries all over the world for 1325 events. This movement was initiated by young Swedish student Greta Thunberg, who on 20^th August 2018 started to protest in front of the Swedish Parliament, demanding urgent actions to fight the climate crisis.

With Run for Nature we run together to demand actions and responses against climate change: first of all, forest protection and restoration.

Run for Nature will take place on 31^st March 2019 at 7 am from Rivonia Hotel in Robert Mugabe Road, Mbuya. The run is open for the registration of 5 km and 10 km for the categories of individuals, corporates and students. The Registration Points are open at National Forestry Authority, at the Association of Uganda Tour Operators, at Café Pap in Parliament Avenue and at our Association premises.

This year the partnership for the Run once again bring together conservation, environment and tourism sector. Our main partners are the National Forestry Authority, which initiated the Run with us from the first edition; National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA); Uganda Tourism Board (UTB); Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The tourism sector is represented by the umbrella Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) and by their different associations: Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO), Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA), Uganda Association of Tour Guides (USAGA).

Our partnership proceeds with the conservation organizations, like the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust. The Slow Food Uganda is also our traditional partner thanks to their work in sustainable agriculture, the protection of traditional and healthy food and knowledge. This year we are also partnering with Joint Energy and Environment Projects (JEEP) with whom the Association is intending to develop the project of the agro-forestry. The Scouts of Uganda are partnering with us, as they represent the young generations of students and youth, who through the scouts are educated to the love of nature and the active engagement in its protection.

This year the run will also involve schools and young students, because it is necessary that the message of working together for reversing the environmental crisis starts from the new generations.

We need to thank all our sponsors because they believed in us and in our projects. We thank Cassia Lodge of Busiga Hill for renewing the sponsorship; Pakuba Lodge of Murchison Falls National Park; Rivonia Hotel in Mbuya where the event will start; Orient Bank; Stirling construction company; 2 Friends Beach Hotel of Entebbe; Café Pap for renewing partnership once again; Tarpo Industries and Daniel Choudry Sales Institute.

A special thanks to the Embassy of Italy and HE the Italian Ambassador for giving the patronage to the event.

The cases of land titles over Bugoma natural forest.

The press conference address the case of the land title of Mr. Mustapha Zaid in Bugoma natural forest.

This year the topic of Run for Nature is: “No way for forest encroachment”. We would like to bring the attention of the media to the case of land titles given in the natural forest. If not stopped, the worst encroachment will take place. Our patrol discovered in May 2018 an encroachment of Bugoma Forest in the area of Nyaigugu LC1, Kabwoya Sub County. It was later on found that a businessman called Mr. Zaid Mustapha on 20^th September was issued a land title over the said area for approximately 925 hectares of natural forest (2 km per 6 km) in the name of MZ Agencies. On 14^th October 2018 a grader was impounded after having tried to start clearing the forest.  Later on, on 22^nd November Mr. Buryahika Stephen who is the chairperson LC3 of Kabwoya Sub County (where the forest is located) was given a land title for 51.45 hectares, also in the contested forested area. The said people were having meetings in the communities jointly with Chair Person LC5 of Hoima Mr. Kadir Kirungi (one meeting was on 27^th January 2019) in which they explained that the interest of the land titles was to clear the natural forest and develop a sugar cane plantation where a number of jobless people would have benefited getting jobs. This area has always been protected by National Forestry Authority even though it is not within the legal boundaries of the Central Forest Reserve.

Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom with a statement by Mr. John Musungu is also claiming that the said land belongs to the Kingdom and not to private businessmen. It is not clear whether the Kingdom claims the land for conservation or for similar interest in sugar cane plantation like the others. It is known that the area under dispute is where “Endaki z’amukama Kabalega” are situated, where Kingdom performs annual cultural norms; so we believe that the Kingdom has also a cultural interest in the preservation.

The question are: who allowed some individuals to acquire a big portion of natural Bugoma Forest and at the expense of the communities? How much was the transaction, considering the value of land in the area? Why political leaders still believe that sugar cane can be a solution for development in replacing a natural forest?

Our Association wrote to World Wild Fund to investigate over the matter. We also wrote to the Minister of Land and Land Commission with letter dated 25^th February to demand the cancellation of land titles issued on Bugoma Forest

The Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest urges all stakeholders, political leaders, the conservation agencies, the tourism sector as a whole to intervene for the ultimate protection of Bugoma Forest. We ask the media houses to play their role and inform the public about this threat.

1.    Bugoma Forest must be protected as it is, no matter where the exact boundaries of the Central Forest Reserve are. Today we should talk about afforestation and not about deforestation.

2.    Bugoma Forest and local communities need development, which can also come from tourism and conservation related investments and this would be compromised by the continuation of these threats in conservation and by the biggest encroachment in history, for about 976 hectares of land.

3.    The Local communities need to be part of the process of development and not victims of the so called businessmen.

We will run on 31^st of March to say no way for forest encroachment, no way for climate warming, no way for Mustapha Zaid to destroy 925 hectares of natural forest for sugar cane.