Masaka residents protest new fees for grazing in forest reserves
Masaka residents protest new fees for grazing in forest reserves
MASAKA. Masaka District residents have protested the revised charges levied on herders grazing their cattle in government forest reserves.
The changes announced by the district forestry authorities require each cow grazed from forest reserves, including Mujuzi Forest Reserve, to pay Shs5,000, up from Shs1,000, which they have been paying monthly.
However, the herdsmen have opposed the new fees, saying they are exorbitant.
The most affected herdsmen are those in Diimo, Katikamu, Gayaza, Nabitaka and Byambale, among villages in Kyesiga Sub-county in Masaka District.
During a crisis village meeting at Byambale Village in Kyesiiga Sub-county on Wednesday last week, the residents raised their concern over what they called exploitation by the forestry authorities.
Herdsmen led by the village chairperson, Mr Baker Kalokola, claim that for long, they have been protecting the forest reserves from encroachers and land grabbers.
“Majority of the herdsmen here are still keeping local breeds because they don’t have money to purchase and maintain hybrid heifers. So, I wonder how they will manage to pay Shs5,000 per month to feed their cattle,” he said.
Also under the new arrangement, herdsmen will cease fetching firewood from the forest reserves as has been the practice.
Ms Joan Namukasa, one of the affected livestock farmers, said local leaders and forestry authorities should address the problem of illegal logging in forest reserves instead of witch-hunting locals residing near forests.
Livestock farmers in Bukoto Central constituency have asked their leaders, including the area legislator and Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi to intervene and ask the district forestry authorities to revise the new charges downwards.
The area parish chairperson, Mr Moses Gabula, said it’s unfair to charge herdsmen such money for simply grazing their cattle in forest reserves.
Efforts to speak to the area forest supervisor, Mr Rogers Mwanje, were futile by press time.
Grazing in forests
Permission: In the neighbouring Gomba District, National Forestry Authority permitted herders to graze in central forest reserves provided they report those who cut down trees. They are usually given a six-month grazing permit, which is renewable upon satisfactory monitoring which considers sustainable use of the reserves.
