Councilors win Goma and Central Divisions in Mukono Municipality have joined hands to steer the mobilization campaign aimed at soliciting for trees to restore Namyoya central forest reserve.
Councilors claim that despite of the Ministry of Water and Environment rejecting the proposal to degazette Namyoya, several developers have continued to establish commercial and residential houses on the forest land which would instead be used for ecological activities.They claim the forest that initially had 900 acres is only left with less than 400 acres.
Allan Mawanda, an Environmentalist and Speaker of Mukono Central Division says they have obtained a list over 200 people constructing and others who have secured plans to construct on the contested land, they will release to shame after proper confirmation.
He however notes that they are not going to wait for developers to encroach on the entire land to rise saying they have decided to mobilize for trees they shall go planting wherever there is space.
Richard Katende, a councilor Kiwanga ward in Goma accuses the National Forestry Authority for remaining silent instead of conducting a restoration exercise where massive depletion has been done.
He notes that they have written to concerned authorities to join the campaign and once they decline to respond, as leaders shall mobilize youths to expedite the campaign.
URN established that part of the forest was cleared and replaced with eucalyptus trees while other parts of the forest are used for bricklaying, wetland rice growing and construction of permanent buildings.
Fred Kiyimba, another councillor at Mukono Central Division says Namyoya is the only central forest reserve remaining with a space that can be restored, as the rest are developed yet the municipality is now almost surrounded with industries contaminating environment.
Other destroyed reserve including Kifu, Namilyango and Kasaayi.
NFA Spokesperson Aisha Alibhai says they haven’t received any complaint from residents and environmentalists in Mukono. She notes that NFA can only allow individuals practicing ecological activities on reserve land and once they violate the terms of agreement their certificate must be cancelled.
Meanwhile, another section of leaders headed by Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze lately claim that the land belongs to Buganda. She notes that it used to house the Kabaka’s farm for goats.
However, recently she proposed before parliament to de-gazatte part of the forest to help Goma division acquire a section for a leisure park, cemetery ground, playground and a lagoon but the proposal has not yet succeeded.