Uganda: NFA Plants Trees Amidst Protests From Encroachers

Source from:  New Vision (Kampala) 24 August 2008 08/26/2008

THE National Forestry authority (NFA) has continued with the restoration of Wambabya forest despite resistance from the local people in Hoima district. In a recent clash outside the forest reserve, a group of local people armed with arrows and spears attacked policemen who were providing security to the NFA team. The Police is holding three suspects over the incident. "At the time of the shooting, the team of forestry and district officials and the people contracted to plant the trees were inspecting the areas to be replanted," said David Mununuzi, a forestry official. In an interview with The New Vision on Thursday, Mununuzi said the encroachers had taken over 2,000 hectares of the 9,000 hectares of the forest. They were growing cassava and tobacco in the forest and some of them had set up homes there, he said. He added that the encroachers would be allowed to harvest their crops before leaving. The forest is a catchment area for R. Wambabya on which a hydro-power dam is to be built. Because of the destruction of the forest, the river has been heavily silted. Enditem