Uganda: Fighting for the Mabira Forest and final success!
Uganda has witnessed growing protests
in recent weeks over government plans to give over 7,100 hectares
of Mabira Forest, a nature reserve since 1932, to SCOUL for sugarcane
growing. Razing the forest could devastate a fragile environment,
sparking soil erosion, drying up the climate and removing a buffer
against pollution for Lake Victoria. Technical, professional and
expert advice against the project as well as public protests culminated
in the resignation of the Board and senior technical staff of
the National Forestry Authority (NFA). The new Board, appointed
in December, 2006, is in the process of approving more forest
give-aways for commercial purposes such as Kitubulu in Entebbe,
Buyaga (Lyantonde), Mpanga (Fort Portal), Nebbi, Arua, Ntungamo,
Kitgum and Bobi, among others.
Ugandans living near the Mabira Forest
fear collapse of their way of life. "It is everything: firewood,
charcoal, herbal medicine, edible fruits, timber, it catches rain
and fills rivers. We cannot live without it," said Haruna
Salongo, 48.
“Mabira Forest is part of our heritage
and our children's future. Mabira Forest is a tropical hardwood
forest which is proposed to be cut down for the production of
sugar in Uganda. The forest is one of the most biodiverse forests
remaining in Africa. It also has added value for the communities
that inhabit it and surround it. The value of the forest to Uganda
and her people is beyond the values of the trees, but it is also
a frequented tourism site for birdwatching, forest walks, and
other activities; it has cultural and historical values; it significantly
impacts the environment as a natural water filteration system
and a natural regulator of global climate”, expressed members
of the Save Mabira Crusade (SMC), a network of several individuals,
NGOs, civic leaders, religious, cultural and academic institutions,
political organisations and local communities that have come together
in a bid to stop the proposed give-away of Mabira and other forest
reserves in Uganda.
As opposition to the sugar plantation
grew, with the local press saying 80 percent
of parliamentarians would vote against it, President
Museveni has dug his heels in. “Increased sugar production
would boost jobs, export earnings and tax revenue - essential
if Uganda is to "have money to police and protect the environment",
Mr Museveni says. Mabira residents are sceptical of promises of
jobs, alluding to the people of Bugala Island on Lake Victoria,
who were persuaded to give part of their pristine rainforest to
a private Kenyan palm oil company, Bidco, last year. Bidco planted
4,000 hectares of palm, mostly on land covered in forest that
the company bulldozed, locals say. The state agreed to give Bidco
2,000 more hectares of forest land by lifting the protected status
of a nature reserve, but this has been held up by public outcry.
Residents say they lost vital resources like wood, medicines,
fresh water, yet saw no employment or money.
"They promised a lot of things,"
said Joyce Nakirijja, 70, sitting in her farmyard on Bugala surrounded
by banana plants. "Our grandchildren would have jobs and
they would build new roads, schools and hospitals. It was a lie;
we have dirt roads and the company imports workers from the mainland."
Another problem, she said, was that monkeys rendered homeless
by deforestation were raiding local crops.
On 12th May 2007 the leaders of SMC
organized a demonstration against Mabira Forest Give-away. The
demonstration which was supposed to be peaceful turned chaotic
and five lives were lost, some property was destroyed, some people
were injured and many of the leaders were arrested and detained
after the demonstration. They are now facing various charges in
the courts of law ranging from murder to participation in an “unlawful
demonstration” – though the police had cleared the demonstration
and given it a go-ahead. They will appear in court to answer charges
against them on the 28th June and 26 July.
However, after so much pain there is
good news! The Government of Uganda has
announced on May 22 the drop of its intention to giving away the
Mabira Central Forest Reserves for commercial sugar cane growing.
The struggle of the Ugandan people has
rendered fruits for them and those to come.
Article based on: “Legal Questions Over
Plan to Give Away Mabira Forest”, “Save Mabira Forest in Uganda”,
“Mabira Forest Crusade – Court”, “Uganda Govt. Gives up Mabira
Sale!”, NAPE, http://www.nape.or.ug/
