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.
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| 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 20th 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 14th October 2018 a grader was impounded
after having tried to start clearing the said forest. Later on, on 22nd 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 27th 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 1st
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 25th 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.
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| 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.
