I’m not interested in Mabira - Mehta

Mr Mahendra Mehta, 75, the head of the Mehta Group, has told the Indian Association of Uganda that he no longer has any interest in acquiring part of the Mabira Forest for sugarcane growing. According to a top official in the association, who preferred anonymity, Mr Mehta, who is believed to be currently in the country, has expressed shock as to why President Museveni is insisting on giving his company, Sugar Cooperation Uganda (Scoul), part of the forest even after public outcry.

“Mr Mehta told the association he withdrew his interest in the 7,100 hectares in 2007 and has been looking for alternative land. He has never asked for that forest since then,” the official told Saturday Monitor last evening adding that although several land offers had been made to the Mehta Group, none had shown commitment although several land offers had been made to the Mehta Group, none had shown commitment by presenting a certificate of title.

However, according to other sources, Mr Mehta’s sudden change of heart may be attributed to pressure from the Indian community in Uganda, who, for fear of a repeat of the 2007 incidents, piled pressure on the company to withdraw from Mabira.

“The Asian Community is against the give-away of Mabira. The business community is against it and Mr Mehta said he does not want it,” the official added.

The source also hinted that a series of meetings have been taking place between the community and officials from the Trade and Industry ministry and with the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, where their position has been clearly stated over the give-away.

Indian pressure
Indian businessmen in Uganda have been pressuring their association to come up with an official statement over the matter but the association is yet to do so since, according to the source, they have been giving Mr Mehta time to come clean.
A statement issued yesterday by a group of 102 Asians living in Uganda, indicated that a section of the community has joined the chorus against President Museveni’s initiative to give away part of the Mabira Forest for sugarcane growing to Scoul.

In a media statement yesterday entitled, “Uganda Asians for Mabira” the group called for; “Save Mabira! Oppose Greed!” to advance the community and country.

The statement which also calls for the public to massively join the petition, comes a week after donors threw their weight behind the chorus against Mr Museveni’s proposal to give out part of Uganda’s biggest natural forest, a move he said would resolve the ongoing sugar crisis in the country.

Last month, while meeting district officials, President Museveni argued that the giveaway of the forest to the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (Scoul) in Lugazi, Mukono, would increase sugar production, sparking off protests and warning from sections of the public.

However, officials of the Indian Association in Uganda yesterday described the statement as individual initiative that has nothing to do with the entire Indian community.

“Every individual has got a right to their own opinion. This is not the whole community, as much as we are very concerned about the environment, there are many intellectuals who can discuss and determine that matter,” said Mr Patel Shanjiv, the Publicist of the Indian Association in Uganda.

He said: “As the Indian community, we abide by the rules, regulations and policies of the country. I am sure the government and the people concerned over the forest know what they are doing.”

Mr Shanjiv explained that the need for more sugar calls for more investors to reduce the prices.

Environmentalists have since warned government against the President’s agreement, saying they are prepared to fight for the forest.

The first attempt by Scoul to have a third of the forest for the same purpose in 2007 met stiff public resistance that ended in a demonstration that left three people dead.

On August 13, Mr Museveni announced that he was willing to give part of the forest to the sugar company to expand its production.

The President said Mehta had requested for the part of the land and attributed the delay of the give-away to the 2007 riots which he said were led by Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar.
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