NFA evicts encroachers from Kagombe forest reserve

Authorities in Kagadi district have evicted several people who had encroached River Muzizi and Kagombe forest reserve.

The operation which was sanctioned by the Kagadi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Lillian Ruteraho was led by a joint team of Police and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF).

A source in the district security committee said the eviction is line with the President’s directive to all RDCs and Chief Administrative officers in June this year to ensure that wetlands and forests are protected from being degraded.

During the operation, plantations of crops such as bananas, maize, coffee, and eucalyptus trees were cut down and their owners were seen scampering for their dear lives, witnesses said.

Plantations estimated to cover over 10 acres were cut down, in order to protect the endangered River Muziizi and Kagombe forest reserve.

According to environmentalists, over 600 hectares of the forest reserve in Muhorro, Ndaiga, Kyaterekera and Bwikara have been cleared for cultivation by encroachers.

“Since March this year, we have been issuing warnings through Kagadi Magistrates’ court and encroachers have remained adamant. They continued to encroach on the river banks and the neighboring Kagombe forest reserves by planting bananas, maize, beans, onions, tomatoes, coffee maize  and eucalyptus trees,” Ms Ruteraho said on Monday.

She thanked the security forces for implementing the resolution of the district security committee.

The Kagadi NFA sector Manager Boaz Basigirenda, explained that Kagombe, a tropical rain forest reserve which covers districts of Kagadi, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Kabarole Kyenjojo, Ntoroko and parts of Mubende has for decades been tampered with by encroachers cultivating crops, cutting timber and burning charcoal.

“The destruction of Muziizi wetland and Kagombe forest reserve, habitats for wildlife has led many chimpanzees to migrate, attack and kill people in their homes particularly Children in the sub-counties of Muhorro, Kyaterekera, Ndaiga and Bwikara,” Basigirenda said.

Government is in advanced plans of constructing of the 48 MW Hydro Power dam at Muzizi this financial year.

Basigirenda insisted on the need for farmers and local residents to pave way for the construction of the proposed dam and restoring of the degraded Kagombe central forest reserve.

He further disclosed that the operation to crack down wet land and forest encroachers in gazzetted zones will continue until all protected areas are restored.

Meanwhile, the residents of Kyaterekera Sub County welcomed the exercise to ensure that wetlands are protected.

Henry Josam, one of the encroachers, whose eucalyptus trees were destroyed during the operation, asked the government to  sensitise the community members about protection for the wetlands and forest reserves.

The Kagadi District Police Commander, Romeo Ojara Onek, said errant  encroaches will face prosecution in line with Section 36(1) of the national environment act which prohibits degrading of the environment.