John Odyek And John Kakande
15 May 2003
Kampala — PARLIAMENT on Tuesday passed the National Forestry and Tree Planting Bill 2002 which is expected to address the problem of the rapidly decreasing forest cover.
Environment state minister Dr Kezimbira Miyingo said the wood for fuel would last only eight years. He said a tree plantation fund would be set up and managed by the National Forest Authority (NFA) to be created soon.
"If we do not act now, we will have to import wood. Action must be taken now," he said.
Kezimbira said politicians should not discourage people from growing trees on the grounds that they take over 10 years to grow. He said after 10 years, the trees could be used for various purposes.
The chairman of the natural resources committee, Ndawula Kawesi (Kiboga West), said Uganda's forest cover had dropped from 54% in the past to 20%. He said this was due to illegal pit-sawing and saw milling, forest encroachment, urbanisation, illegal livestock grazing, high electricity costs, commercial wood cutting and over harvesting trees.
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