Buganda demands forest reserve land
Ms Sylvia Mazzi Kakonge speaks during the event in Mawokota county last Friday. Photo by Sadat Mbogo
What you need to know:
- Recently, a row erupted between the office of the Kabaka’s representative in Buddu County (Pokino) and the National Forestry Authority over part of Bukakkata Forest Reserve, which the former have cleared for the construction of offices for Kabaka’s officials in Bukakkata Sub- county.
- Mr Fredrick Bombo, the county’s projects coordinator, said the proposed Mawokota Cultural Heritage Site will cost shs4 billion and will include kings monuments, cottages, restaurants, a museum, library and a heritage school among others.
Mpigi. Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has asked the central government to give back what he called all Buganda’s forest reserves.
Mr Mayiga says Buganda government wants to make the reserves a tourist attraction and a source of revenue.
The katikkiro made the remarks last Friday in a speech read for him by the kingdom’s minister in charge of research, Ms Sylvia Mazzi Kakonge, at a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a cultural heritage site at Butoolo Village, Mawokota County headquarters in Mpigi District.
Mr Mayiga said: “Government should give back our forest reserves located in different districts. The forests contain cultural items that can be utilised to promote tourism in the kingdom. Government should think about this issue as soon as possible.”
The appeal follows several clashes between offices of the kabaka’s representatives in many parts of Buganda and the officials of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), with each party claiming powers over the forest reserves.
Ms Mazzi praised Ms Margaret Nakaye (Miss Tourism Buganda 2016) and the County Chief, Mr David Ssekyeru for spearheading the cause to promote tourism in Buganda.
She urged all young women in Buganda to speak Luganda and wear the Gomesi as a way to promote their culture.
Mr Fredrick Bombo, the county’s projects coordinator, said the proposed Mawokota Cultural Heritage Site will cost shs4 billion and will include kings monuments, cottages, restaurants, a museum, library and a heritage school among others.
Contention
Recently, a row erupted between the office of the Kabaka’s representative in Buddu County (Pokino) and the National Forestry Authority over part of Bukakkata Forest Reserve, which the former have cleared for the construction of offices for Kabaka’s officials in Bukakkata Sub- county. Residents of the Sub-county armed with machetes descended on the forest reserve and started clearing two acres of a reserve where the kingdom plans to construct the office of the area Kabaka’s representative, Mitubaabiri, something that has sparked off a misunderstanding between Buganda and NFA.
