13
March 2020
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE: LAUNCH OF RUN FOR NATURE 2020 – “SUGAR FREE FORESTS”
Today,
the Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ABCF), together with
partners and sponsors, launches the fourth edition of Run for Nature, under the
theme "Sugar free forests and the beekeeping project". Run for
Nature is an annual event organized on the occasion of the International Day of
Forests; this year the Run will take place on 29th March 2020, from
Rivonia Hotel in Robert Mugabe Road, Mbuya, Kampala.
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| From Left: Mayor of Nakawa Balimwezo Ronald Nsubuga, Officer European Union Campodonico Beatrice, Ambassador of Italy Mazzanti Massimiliano, Marketing Head UTB Natukunda Sandra, Chair ACBF Tessarin Costantino |
The
theme intends to raise interest and investments for livelihoods alternative to
sugar cane, in the case of Bugoma Forest and elsewhere. The proceedings of the
Run in fact will support the implementation of the beekeeping for the farmers
in Kikuube District. The idea is to provide
training and equipment to 10 leading farmers and establishing a honey
processing plant, which will attract more revenue locally as well as market for
the honey. The Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest will directly
implement this project and run the honey processing plant in partnership with
the farmers’ association. The overall cost of the project is 33,300,000 Ugandan
Shillings.
Like in the previous editions,
the Run brings together conservation, environment and tourism sector, with
recognition by institutions like the Ministry of Water and Environment and the
Embassy of Italy in Uganda. This year, the European Union has joined the
partnership through the co-sponsorship of the Run.
The main partners of the
Run are the National Forestry Authority and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). The
tourism sector is represented also by the umbrella Uganda Tourism Association
(UTA) and their different associations: Association of Uganda Tour Operators
(AUTO), Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA), Uganda Hotels Owners
Association (UHOA).
The partners from the
conservation sector are key organizations having a history of presence and
commitment for the conservation of Bugoma Forest, such as the Chimpanzee
Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Eco Trust. Other key partners of the
Run for Nature are Slow Food Uganda and the Scouts of Uganda,
INFORMATION ABOUT THE RUN:
Run for
Nature will take place on
29th March 2020 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.
The fees are 30.000 Ugx for individuals, 250.000 Ugx for Corporate with up to 4
participants and 550,000 Ugx for Corporate up to 10 participants.
The
chief runner for this edition will be His Worship Balimwezo Ronald Nsubuga,
Mayor of Nakawa Division Urban Council, Kampala Capital City Authority.
SPONSORS
RUN FOR NATURE 2020
There will not be the Run
for Nature 2020 without the support of sponsors and partners, starting from the
European Union. We thank all the sponsors: Gorilla Tours, Nature Lodges,
Sobetra, Rivonia Hotel, Data Net, Destination Jungle, Daniel Choudry Sales
Institute, Pakuba Lodge, Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge, Liaison Group of
insurance, Standard Signs Contractors, Stirling Constructions, Jibu water,
Tarpo Industries
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
ABOUT ACBF AND BUGOMA FOREST
The
Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest is a CBO association registered
in Kikuube District (former Hoima District), in 2016 with the only objective to
work on projects for the conservation of Bugoma Forest. Bugoma Central Forest Reserve (CFR) is a 411km2 government
forest located in Kikuube
District in the Western part of Uganda on the Escarpment edge near Lake Albert.
According to the biodiversity report, Bugoma is an exceptionally rich forest in
terms of vertebrate fauna. Two notable bird species are Nahan’s francolin and
the black eared ground thrush which are known from only another forest in
Uganda, Kibale forest. Sizeable populations of about 500 chimpanzees, the
endemic grey cheecked mangabey (Ugandan Mangabey) and small numbers of
elephants have been recorded in Bugoma Forest. Despite its importance in
biodiversity, this forest has an history of degradation, deforestation and
general threat to its existence.
In
2019, the Association started to invest in eco-tourism activities in the
central reserve as a way forward for conservation and for improving peoples’
perception about the forest. The project of Chimp T-Rap that from 2016 serves
as a support patrolling team for National Forestry Authority, is now serving
also as a guiding team for tourists. In 2019 the Association entered into
partnership with the Association KASFA (Kikuube District Farmers Association).
In an area of poor and small scale subsistence agriculture, agro-forestry interventions will help maintaining a food
security where many farmers are encouraged to embrace sugar cane plantation,
which is negatively affecting the food security, the environment of the buffer
zones and the health of people in general, moreover impoverishing the household
incomes.
SINCE THE PREVIOUS RUN OF 2019
Since
the previous edition of Run for Nature on 30th March 2019, our
Association launched the “Save Bugoma Forest campaign” in May 2019 after the
High Court of Masindi in the Civil Suit number 0031 of 2016 ruled against
National Forestry Authority and in favor of the Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara and
Hoima Sugar. The ruling was that part of Bugoma Forest for about 5.779 hectares
(Buhanguzi Block 2 Plot number 216 land at Kyangwali) is not belonging to
National Forestry Authority as a Central Forest Reserve, but to Bunyoro Kitara
Kingdom as restituted property pursuant Traditional Rulers (Restitution and
Property) Act Cap 247 and that the land title issued on the said land on 1st
August 2016 is lawful as well as the subsequent lease title issued on 5th
August 2016 to Hoima Sugar LTD for sugar cane development.
Meantime
a businessman called Mr. Zaid Mustapha on 20th September 2018 was
issued a land title over an area for approximately 925 hectares of natural
forest (2 km per 6 km) in the name of MZ Agencies in Nyaigugu LC1, Kabwoya Sub
County. In both cases a grader was sent by Hoima Sugar LTD for starting the
clearance of the natural forest, but they were impounded by the Police.
Currently,
the attempt of developing sugar cane plantations at the expense of Bugoma
nature forest is still a threat against conservation efforts and other
developments in eco-tourism. We appreciate that the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom governing
body and the Government of Uganda with a cabinet directive are looking at
political solution to guarantee the preservation of Bugoma Forest and that a
new boundary opening exercise is being ordered to facilitate handling of cases
of disputed land.
The
Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest has a clear message to all
the stakeholders: 1) Bugoma Forest must
be protected as it is, no matter where the exact boundaries of the Central
Forest Reserve are or who is the owner of the land; today in 2020 we should
talk about afforestation and not about deforestation, if we wish to control our
health and the climate change; 2) Bugoma Forest and local communities
need development, which can come from tourism and conservation related
investments, which would be compromised by all the threats; 3) The Local communities need to be part of the
process of development and not victims of the so called “businessmen”.
