Bunyoro Kingdom officials, NFA clash over Budongo Forest

KIKUUBE– Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom officials and the National Forest Authority [ NFA ] are involved in a fresh conflict over the ownership Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

The two institutions are fighting over eight square miles of land covering villages of; Ngogoli, Karongo, Rwesabya, and Butule located in Kyangwali Sub-county in Kikuube district.

The contest between the two sides started recently after the Kingdom officials headed by the Chief Prince Fred Mugenyi Rucunya [Okwiri], ordered thousands of people to encroach on the forest land for cultivation, claiming that the land belongs to the Kingdom.

NFA officials say they were forced to intervene after people cleared the forest to plant crops like beans and maize, cut timber, and burn charcoal. “The massive destruction of the forest forced NFA to intervene and protect the forest from the groups which were erasing it down.”

This was revealed during a security meeting organized by Kikuube Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Amlan Tumusiime at Karongo village, Kyangwali Sub-county to find a way for ending the conflict.

The meeting was convened following a petition by Okwiri Rucunya demanding security to intervene and stop NFA officials from harassing and torturing the Kingdom subjects tilling the land.

Speaking during the meeting the residents told the security meeting that NFA and UPDF officers had made their area unsafe to live in.

Jerald Tusabomu and Ragton Tukasingula some of the people farming on the land accused NFA and security officials of harassment, torture,  indiscriminate arrests, and destruction of their gardens.

Tukasingula explained that his acres of maize in which he had invested millions of shillings was recently slashed by the NFA officials, adding his family will face hunger since the crops on the farm have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, Kusiima Ndondo the chairman of Karongo village told the security meeting that several people have deserted their homes due to the creasing harassment and torture by the officials.

He explained that many people have been arrested and detained at Kikuube Police station while others, he said, were taken to Kampala. He requested the RDC to intervene so that those detained are released.

Charles I Nyabongo Okyaki a representative of the Kingdom Rukurato (Parliament) said the Kingdom has owned the land for many generations,  adding that the Omukama is concerned about the continued torture of his people over the disputed land. He wondered why NFA and their agents arrest people and take them to Kampala yet there is police in the area.

“This is the land where we have been carrying the Kingdom rituals. Why do you come at this time to claim. Stop arresting and harassing our people. If you are interested in arresting, go in the palace and arrest OMukama first,” Nyabongo said.

Peter Masika the NFA supervisor Ngogoli area said that the contested land is a protected forest reserve and denied claims of torturing and harassing by the residents.

He admitted that suspects were arrested and taken to Kampala because the police in the area were freeing the suspects before their cases were handled.

He noted that hundreds of acres of the forest cover have been depleted by groups from districts of Kikuube, Kagadi, Kamuli, Mpingi, Kakuumiro, and Kyankwanzi, adding that some groups are in the area to burn charcoal and cut timber.

On his side, RDC Tumusiime ordered security officials working with NFA to stop harassing, arresting, torturing, and detaining suspects in Kampala.  He noted government does not tolerate torture and harassment of citizens adding that such acts are crimes.

He also ordered residents operating in the forest to stop clearing the forest, burning charcoal and cutting timber and promised to convene a meeting between NFA top management and the Kingdom officials to discuss the matter and get a lasting solution to the conflict.  Tumusiime also ordered for the deployment of security in the area to ensure peace in

In 2017 Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom developed a disagreement with NFA after the kingdom claimed ownership of 22 square miles as NFA insisted the land was a protected forest reserve.

This was after the Kingdom leased the land to Hoima Sugar Limited for 99 years, to grow sugarcane. NFA dragged Hoima Sugar Company limited and Bunyoro Kitara-Kingdom to court challenging the occupancy of the land, claiming that the land was part of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve. On April 25, 2019, the High court in Masindi ruled that Hoima Sugar and Bunyoro Kitara kingdom were the rightful occupants of the land.

The forest is threatened by illegal logging, and it is feared that it may succumb to settlement and agriculture. The situation is worsened by an influx of Congolese refugees, and burgeoning large-scale tea and tobacco farms on its outskirts that infringe on the reserve boundaries.

https://thecooperator.news/bunyoro-kingdom-security-agencies-meet-over-land-dispute/

Buy your copy of theCooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news