Madinah Tebajjukira
3 November 2009
Kampala — OVER 3,500 families have encroached on forests in western Uganda since last year, a study by MPs has disclosed. The parliamentary committee on commissions, statutory and state enterprises conducted last month discovered that 3,000 families had occupied forests in Kibale district.
Committee chairperson Reagan Okumu said another 500 in Kagadi had settled in forests following the President's directive stopping the eviction of encroachers.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, a family in Uganda is believed to have seven members on average. This suggests that there are 24,500 fresh encroachers in the forest reserves, Okumu said.
"The committee, will make a report to Parliament recommending that the President revises his directive because it has aided forest encroachment," Okumu said.
Last month, the committee toured the country to asses the situation of forests.
However, Okumu said the MPs did not visit Mabira Forest due to the suspension of the National Forest Authority chief, Damian Akankwasa.
He said other officials from NFA were not competent enough to answer questions on Mabira. In Kibale, Kagadi and Kyenjojo, Okumu said the Banyoro encroachers were encouraging their colleagues to settle in forests.
"Forest encroachment in western Uganda has taken a new dimension. Originally, encroachers were Bakiga, but now the Banyoro have mobilised fellow Banyoro to invade the forests."
Okumu said in Mubende and Mityana districts, encroachers were allegedly protected by a government minister and a top UPDF officer.
He said forest officers told the committee that the UPDF officer mobilised veterans to settle in the forests.
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