By Kabuye Ronald
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) contradicts its self on biodiversity conservation by calling for investment in sustainable biodiversity conservation yet it gave away part of the Bugoma forest to Hoima sugar limited for sugarcane growing well knowing the danger of their action.
Speaking at stakeholder’s engagement in Kampala as the country joined the world to commemorate the international biodiversity day, NEMA’s deputy executive director Christine Akello said human activities are immensely contributing to the degradation of biodiversity.
She called for a deliberate need to protect the biodiversity since if nothing is done to reverse the degradation, human survival will be threatened.
However despite knowing that sugar plantation on forest land means death for biodiversity, environmental degradation, water and air pollution, wildlife habitat loss, compromised water sources, NEMA went ahead to give away part of the Bugoma forest for sugarcane planting as per NEMA ESIA report.
An environmental and human rights Lawyer Eron Kiiza took to his social media handles to describe NEMA’s action as full of impunity, malice and greed.
“It is not ignorance. It is IMPUNITY, MALICE & GREED.
Ugandans need to wake up and protect Uganda before some foreigners and those who behave worse than them eat all the precious environment that is a source of tourism revenue, recreational services, food, water, employment, cultural heritage, national identity, spiritual fulfillment, medicine and countless other uses.
To protect the environment, we must have environmental information.” Posted Eron Kiiza.
Its also important to note that High court judge in kampala Justice Sekaana ruled that the Certificate of approval granted to Hoima Sugar limited for the proposed Kyangwali mixed land use in the disputed part of Bugoma Central forest reserve in Kikuube District was legally issued.
Three conservation organizations; Water & Environment Media network (U) ltd (WEMNET-U), National Association of Professional Environmentalists (Nape) and Africa Institute for Energy Governance (Afiego) had petitioned the court in two separated cases which were later merged into one by court.
Through their lawyers, the organizations were seeking for a court declaration that the approval of the Environmental and Social Impact (ESIA) Statement and the NEMA issuing of the Certificate of Approval of ESIA Certificate to Hoima Sugar Limited for the Kyangwali Mixed Land Use Project was marred by flaws, procedural irregularities and without due recourse to the relevant provisions of the laws and regulations.
The judge observed that it appeared the complaints were premised on distorted facts and the NGOs attempted to suppress the real facts in order to make ‘flowery’ case in court by exaggerating that the entire forest is being cleared for sugarcane planting or that 5000 hectares (21 square miles) of the forest is being cleared for sugarcane growing.
Apparently other environmental organizations have instituted a new case challenging the giveaway of part of Bugoma forest. They include: Earth and rights initiative and The environmental shield.
Today, forest and woodland cover in Uganda stands at 49,000 km² or 24% of the total land area. Of these 9,242.08 km² is tropical rainforest, 350.60 km² are forest plantations and 39,741.02 km² is woodland.
It should also be recalled that in April this year, the 10th parliament approved a loan of 282.4 billion Shillings from the World Bank to invest in forests and protected areas in the country. However even with such government efforts NEMA had to endorse the giveaway part of the Bugoma Forest.
