Dear Member,

As you may be aware, in the last few years Bugoma Central forest reserve has faced various threats from encroachment, the largest of which has been a claim by the Bunyoro Kingdom that part of what is known as the Central Forest reserve belongs to the Kingdom.
Subsequently this land in dispute covering about 5779 hectares was released to a sugarcane company called Hoima Sugar works in 2016.

Bugoma Central Forest Reserve which covers 41.144 hectares of protected area, is the largest remaining block of natural tropical forest along the Albertine Rift Valley between Budongo and Semliki, therefore playing an enormous role in preserving wildlife migratory corridors. The forest provides vast ecosystem services to the people and it is critical for the health of all the population beyond the region.

NatureUganda in collaboration with Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) have organized a Public talk on “the Status of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve: the Implication of the High court ruling that part of the forest be converted into a sugarcane plantation”.

The Guest Speakers were: Chairman Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, National Forest Authority and Civil Society organizations including Tree Talk Plus.

The public talk was held on 9th May 2019 at the Uganda Museum. The venue was packed with concerned and angry members, flanked by many journalists. The presentations were aired live on TV.

Visit the NatureUganda web site to download presentations by NatureUganda, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, OWEYEGHA-AFUNADUULA and Gaster Kiyingi of TreeTalkPlus .

Court ruling to replace Bugoma Forest with sugarcanes raises serious concerns