District Protests Allocation of Forest Reserve To Minister

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Uganda news December 7, 2021

Arua district local government has questioned the giveaway of a huge piece of land off Kafu Forest Reserve to Minister Obiga Mario Kania. John Michael Adabo is the chairperson of the district works, finance, production, and natural resources committee.

He blamed the National Forest Authority (NFA) for what he called poor relationship between them and the community surrounding the forest reserve.

Mr Adabo faulted the authority for allocating the land to only one individual, instead of the community surrounding it.

He added that this had angered the residents who have since turned violent and called for massive sensitization of the communities on the NFA policies.

These communities are said to have been involved in afforestation activities in the forest reserve and deserve to be heard before making such decisions.

Adabo also blamed NFA for failing to sensitize the communities on the decision taken.

Deputy Resident District Commissioner Robert Ocen said there is a need for the people surrounding the reserve. This is because they need to understand how protected government forest reserves work.

He said that over 50 years ago, the forefathers of the current generation donated the land for conservation. However, people now want to grab the land.

Minister Kania said he applied to NFA for 500 hectares and the authority granted him permission to utilize it like any other Ugandan.

‘’In 2016, NFA played adverts in the media, calling on individuals to apply for land in various forests. They were giving blocks of land. I have a license from NFA and documentation for allocation of the land for afforestation,” Kania said.

He asked those complaining to visit NFA and seek clarification.

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