Two shot in troubled Luweero forest reserve

LUWEERO. Local leaders in Luweero District have called for investigations into circumstances under which two residents were on Monday shot and injured by police officers guarding the Mbale Central forest reserve land located in the area.
Mr Simon Ntalo and Ms Rose Nanyombi are nursing bullet wounds sustained after the police officers attached to Mbale Central Forest Reserve located about 5kms from Luweero Town fired live bullets at Yandwe trading centre demanding for individuals who are encroaching on National Forestry Authority (NFA) land.

The police also arrested Mr Wilson Kabira and Rogers Kiwanuka before retreating to the forest area where they are reportedly guarding workers planting pine trees on a section of the forestry land leased to a local businessman.
Luweero District Chairperson, Mr Ronald Ndawula demanded for a quick investigation into the circumstances under which the police stationed at the forest reserve moved outside their mandated area before shooting two residents.

“The victims were not protesting but going about their normal business at Yandwe trading centre which is outside the area being guarded. We are concerned and demand a quick investigation surrounding this careless shooting. The trigger-happy guards should be brought to book before we resort to other means of getting justice,” he said.
Mr Ndawula said during a recent meeting with Luweero District leaders, the Minister for Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris assured them that NFA would not evict the residents who have stayed on the said land for more than 40 years.

“He assured us that the NFA officials were under instruction not to destroy the food crops and property owned by the residents as measures are being undertaken to resolve the problem. The arrest and shooting of residents is contrary to a directive by the Minister. As leaders, we are concerned about the double standards which are negatively impacting on the mobilization activities of the NRM government,” Mr Ndawula said on Monday.

Haji Abdul Nadduli the Minister Without portfolio who has been following up the matter told Daily Monitor that news regarding the shooting is unfortunate.
“We are surprised that NFA seems to be very impatient and out of touch with what their line Minister has directed on the same issue. Destroying the gardens among other property is not in good spirit,” Mr Nadduli said.
Luweero District Police Commander, Mr Benson Byaruhanga Muworozi on Monday said investigations had kicked off before expressing his regret over the shooting.

“I have been briefed that the policemen were pursuing some people who had reportedly attacked the workers at the forest reserves . We are carrying out our own investigations to get the facts about this unfortunate incident. The police officers deployed at the forest are not under my command because they came from Kampala and are attached to the environment police. I call upon the government department to brief us on what is taking place because they are not involving us yet we have the duty to protect life and property in the area,” Mr Byaruhanga said.
NFA owns about 1,208 hectares of forest land at Mbale village of which about 300 acres are currently occupied by residents. Government gazetted the forest reserve in 1967, according to records from the NFA.

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