Fred Siminyu
29 July 2008
Mayuge — More than 100 encroachers, some of them Kenyans, have set up on the 16,000 hectare South Busoga forest reserve in Malongo and Kityerera sub-counties in Mayuge District.
The Area National Forest Authority (NFA) Plantation Manager, Mr Peter Ogwayi, said during a sensitisation workshop in Mayuge town last Thursday said the encroachers have adversely hindered progress of work in the forest reserve.
"We planned to plant 200 hectares of pine trees during this season but the encroachers have planted crops all over the forest reserve," he said.
Mayuge LC5 Vice Chairman Peter Tasibula said large numbers of Kenyans had illegally crossed into the country and erroneously acquired land for settlement in the forest reserve.
"The Kenyans have joined the local forest encroachers, set up residential makeshift shelters and settled down to cultivate and cut trees for timber and charcoal," he said.
He accused the Kenyans of smuggling timber and charcoal to their country through Lake Victoria. Mr Tasibula blamed the increased number of encroachers on the prolonged presidential ban on evictions in the forest reserves that has remained in place since the 2006 presidential campaigns.
"The ban was unfortunately misinterpreted by the encroachers to mean a permanent settlement into the forest reserve resulting into an influx into the forest reserve and creating a total vacuum of lawfulness in the area," he said.
Mr Tasibula said the Kenyans and some local residents are acquiring the forest land through a team of encroachers who after the ban have assumed ownership of the forest reserve and invited others to join them.
"The encroachers have greatly frustrated NFA efforts to plant trees but cannot be evicted because the 2006 presidential ban on evictions from forests still stands," he said.
The RDC, Mr Tom Kasenge said the encroachers apart from depleting the forest cover and interfering with the activities of NFA, pose a security threat in the area.
"A vacuum of lawfulness has been born in the forest reserve creating an epicenter of crime where mob justice is the order of the day leading to constant loss of life," he said.
He said most Kenyans have settled down in the forest villages of Walujjo, Nairobi and Musoma, adding that the government will soon come up with a permanent solution to the problem.
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