The NFA officer-in-charge of Mabira planning management sector Micheal Ojja says that the tractors were found excavating part of the disputed Kiruwula forest reserve land in Galiraya Sub County.
National Forestry Authority-NFA has impounded three tractors
belonging to GM Sugar Uganda Limited.
NFA issued a warning to the sugar company in May to halt all the farming
activities near the forest until boundary opening is completed. The exercise will start next year.
The NFA officer-in-charge of Mabira planning management sector Micheal Ojja says
that the tractors were found excavating part of the disputed Kiruwula forest
reserve land in Galiraya Sub County.
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Kayunga is among the districts where several forest reserves have been lost to
private individuals who also claim have land titles.
On several occasions NFA has clashed with
officials from GM Sugar Company for encroaching on the forest reserve to grow sugarcane.
The commission of inquiry into land matters indicated that over
40,000 hectares of the central forest reserve land has been taken by private
developers.
Alex Mugooma the ground supervisor of GM Sugar Company says the company has always directed them to manage properties where they have
proof of ownership.
“Most of the land is acquired on lease and the rest is bought from individuals,
none the less the top management will come in to solve the misunderstandings,”
Mugooma says.
Paul Maka a resident at Galiraya says NFA notes that individuals and sugar
companies have made it a habit to clear forests to grow sugarcane.
“As residents we have so much tried to fight deforestation at various levels
starting from the sub-counties up to the district authorities but nothing has
been done to save the environment”
