Encroachers clear 40 hectares of city forest

Police, army and NFA officials talk to suspected encroachers yesterday. PHOTO BY ISAAC KASAMANI

Kampala

Most of them are casual labourers while others claim to be unemployed. But in just a fortnight, the 300 people who encroached on Namanve Central Forest Reserve in Bukasa, Kampala, have reportedly cut down 40 hectares of trees in the area. NFA officials said so far, 100 of 1,000 hectares of the forest reserve, have been cleared in Kirinya, Kito, Bukasa and Kasokoso areas.

Part of the forest, that had trees, standing on it for a decade, has now become a construction site. Temporary houses can be seen in most part of the forest while charcoal burning is a booming business in the area. While some said they were looking for means of survival for their families, other encroachers claim they were informed by officials from National Forestry Authority (NFA) and Local Council officials that the forest land was being leased out.

Arrests made
When the police, army and NFA officials stormed the area yesterday to arrest the encroachers, most of them were equipped with various construction equipment and going about their work.

The beehive of activity was brought to a temporary halt as the NFA and security officials embarked on a chase to catch the culprits. Six people, including a soldier, were arrested. “We heard that land was being leased and we need places to settle. Houses are very expensive, most of us here do casual work and earn about Shs3,000 a day,” said Mr Nsereko Sebuliba from Mbuya, a Kampala suburb.

The soldier and another suspect, who claims to be a boda boda rider, were reportedly caught in the forest. The duo claims they were waiting for someone to bring them money for transport. But security officials said the soldier could have been selling part of the forest land to the boda boda rider.

Overlooking the reserve is a construction site which the locals said belongs to Mukwano Industries. The construction site and the forest are separated by a swamp. Locals were particularly furious about why companies were being allowed to operate near a forest while they are denied access to the forest land.

Mr Michael Kasuro, the NFA forest supervisor in-charge of law enforcement, said such are everyday excuses the encroachers use to occupy the forest. “This land was leased in 2004-6 for 25 years, how can these people claim that the lease has expired? And even if it had expired, there are procedures to acquire a lease,” Mr Kasuro said.

The police said they have had several complaints of encroachers who come from Luzira, Mutungo and Kiira areas.
“At first they used to say that it was Kabaka’s land, then they started saying it was given to them by State House, but they cannot provide evidence to prove it,” said Mr George Mpugwu, the Kiira Division CID officer.

The police have so far taken 15 people to court over encroachment and have been charged with criminal trespass and illegal activity but confess that the people behind the act are politicians.

The Forest Supervisor at NFA headquarters, Mr Robert Mubokhisa, said forest reserves should be guarded by armed security personnel to keep away encroachers. “By the time you take action, a lot of damage has already been done, in addition to guarding forests, we need our own court to prosecute the culprits,” Mr Mubokhisa said.