{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Trusted News Uganda","provider_url":"https:\/\/trustednewsug.com","author_name":"Admin","author_url":"https:\/\/trustednewsug.com\/index.php\/author\/kabuye\/","title":"MPs want NFA audited over forestry vanishing cover - Trusted News Uganda","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/trustednewsug.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/14\/mps-want-nfa-audited-over-forestry-vanishing-cover\/\">MPs want NFA audited over forestry vanishing cover<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\n<!--\/\/--><![CDATA[\/\/><!--\n\t\t\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n\t\t!function(d,l){\"use strict\";var e=!1,n=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(d.addEventListener)e=!0;if(d.wp=d.wp||{},!d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage)if(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(t)if(t.secret||t.message||t.value)if(!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var r,i,a,s=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),n=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),c=0;c<n.length;c++)n[c].style.display=\"none\";for(c=0;c<s.length;c++)if(r=s[c],e.source===r.contentWindow){if(r.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message){if(1e3<(a=parseInt(t.value,10)))a=1e3;else if(~~a<200)a=200;r.height=a}if(\"link\"===t.message)if(i=l.createElement(\"a\"),a=l.createElement(\"a\"),i.href=r.getAttribute(\"src\"),a.href=t.value,o.test(a.protocol))if(a.host===i.host)if(l.activeElement===r)d.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",t,!1),d.addEventListener(\"load\",t,!1);function t(){if(!n){n=!0;for(var e,t,r=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf(\"MSIE 10\"),i=!!navigator.userAgent.match(\/Trident.*rv:11\\.\/),a=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),s=0;s<a.length;s++){if(!(e=a[s]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))t=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t);if(r||i)(t=e.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute(\"security\"),e.parentNode.replaceChild(t,e)}}}}(window,document);\n\/\/--><!]]>\n<\/script><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/trustednewsug.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/14\/mps-want-nfa-audited-over-forestry-vanishing-cover\/embed\/\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;MPs want NFA audited over forestry vanishing cover&#8221; &#8212; Trusted News Uganda\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/trustednewsug.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/No-forests.jpg","thumbnail_width":600,"thumbnail_height":400,"description":"By Hannah Marion Namukasa Lawmakers want the National Forestry Authority (NFA) audited over the disappearing forest cover in the country. They accuse the forestry body of championing activities which have led to deforestation, contrary to their mandate of promoting tree planting. This was during debate of the report of the Committee on Climate Change on a motion for a resolution of Parliament urging government to address climate change. The report was presented by the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Climate Change, Hon. Jacinta Atuto, during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 13 September 2022 chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. The report recommended re-opening of forest boundaries and titles issued in gazetted forest land canceled. \u201cGovernment should come up with incentives to encourage the public to plant trees,\u201d read the report in part. &nbsp; Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, (NUP, Butambala County), however, said that while people want to engage in tree planting, NFA on the other hand gives permits to people to cut down trees under the pretext of investments. \u201cWe should first concentrate on protecting the existing forests. NFA should be audited for value for money on forests that have been cut down,\u201d Muwanga Kivumbi said. Buikwe South County MP, Hon. Michael Bayigga, requested for permission to move a motion on the dwindling forest cover, saying that there is a deliberate move to cut down forests. \u201cVery many forests are being cut down under the pretext of planting new trees. An example is Kifu Forest in Mukono which has all been cut down,\u201d he said. Hon. William Museveni (INDP., Buwekula South County) called for enactment of a law which mandates every Ugandan to plant trees. \u201cIt should be compulsory for every Ugandan to plant at least ten trees annually. We are losing the forest cover because of human activities,\u201d he said. Hon. Irene Muloni (NRM, Bulambuli District) called for urgent restoration of the forest cover in the Elgon region, saying that the recurring floods and landslides are as result of the dwindling forest cover. \u201cNature is fighting back. We need as a matter of urgency to relocate people and let trees occupy their natural space,\u201d Muloni said. Pakwach district Woman MP, Hon. Jane Avur, however, cautioned against the eviction of people from forest reserves which are not gazetted and marked, saying that some of the people have lived in such areas for over 40 years and that evicting them would cause conflicts. \u201cThere are unknown forests reserves where people have lived for a long time. Government must follow processes of relocating such people as it is in the law,\u201d said Avur. The committee report further recommended stringent sanctions on people who acquire land in wetlands and ensure that degraded wetlands are reclaimed. \u201cGovernment should follow up with Parliament\u2019s recommendation to cancel all land titles issued on gazette wetlands,\u201d the report read in part. Hon. Silas Aogon (INDP., Kumi Municipality) suggested an annual tax of Shs200 million to deter people from encroaching on wetlands. \u201cThose who inherited wetlands and have lived there for many years should be relocated with alternative livelihoods. They should be given startup capital,\u201d Aogon said. Hon. Ibanda Rwemulikya (INDP., Ntoroko County) faulted the National Environment Management Authority for applying the law selectively on those encroaching on wetlands. \u201cThere is corruption, the poor are being chased away from wetlands while the rich are being given titles to construct in wetlands. Why are the laws being applied selectively?\u201d Rwemulikya wondered. Hon. Bosco Okiror (NRM, Usuk County) warned that the lack of will to implement the laws on climate change will only aggravate the problem. \u201cIf we do not deal with climate change during our generation, it will destroy Uganda. I appeal for proper implementation of the laws,\u2019 said Okiror. Adjumani district Woman MP, Hon. Jesca Ababiku, said that whilst Ugandans are ready to take action against climate change, government is not consistent in implementation of the law on climate change. The Minister of Transport and Works, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, reassured the House of plans to plant trees alongside every new major roads being constructed, as a way of reforestation. \u201cWe need to continue sensitising our p"}