NFA and Mayuge District Local Government call upon Government to clarify on rumor of turning Bukaleba forest reserve into a Game park
Uganda National Forest Authority has rubbished the recent press allegations that Government is creating more six National Game Parks to add on the existing ones as baseless and unfounded.
Addressing residents at Nakalanga Landing site on the shores of Lake Victoria in Mayuge district on Wednesday , the National Forest Authority (NFA) Range Manager (Kyoga), Kusuro Michael, called upon on Government to urgently come out and give a clear clarification on the rumor of turning Bukaleba forest reserve into a Game park.
He informed the residents that although Uganda has for a long time had only ten National Parks, and creating an extra six new ones would present more opportunities to tourists to experience the best of Uganda’s hidden treasures, NFA has no official communication from government to this effect.
“Whereas the intention by government to create six new Game Parks would help boost tourism and wildlife protection, NFA has no official communication from Government. People currently residing in gazetted areas in Bukaleba forest reserve should continue living safely and provide labour to the forest authority as they wait for government clarification on the subject matter and a fulfillment of the five hundred hectare offer by the 2021 presidential directive,” he said.
The 2021 presidential directive pending veto from parliament reinstated 48 villages in South Busoga Forest Reserve to the former residents who were in the past years displaced by sleeping sickness to come back and establish homesteads and settle down.
The presidential directive also went ahead and proposed the giveaway of 500 hectares to former workers of the defunct Government Bukaleba cattle ranch who remained stranded in the area plus some of the encroachers to plant trees under the Collaborative Forest Management Programme but, not to establish homesteads and settle there.
The NFA superviser in charge of Bukaleba Beat, Magezi Jimmy Herbert likewise refuted the press information and confirmed that his office had not received any official communication from Government concerning the issue.
Magezi informed the resident that according to press and social media circulating information it was said that, in addition to Bukaleba Forest Reserve, other areas earmarked by government for gazetting into game parks include Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Echuya Forest Reserve, Kyambura Gorge and Kigezi Wildlife Reserve (To be Annexed to Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Mirembe Shakira, the Bukaleba Forest Reserve Community Relations Officer, called upon the residents to disregard the ongoing rumors and maintain their good cooperation with the forest authorities.
“You should ignore the baseless press and social media rumors and continue working hand in hand with us plus protecting the forest like you have always done until we get a clear communication from government,” she said.
The District LC.5 Vice Chairman Tasibula Peter Nkwanga said he had convened the meeting to seek for a clear stand concerning the matter from NFA and Bukaleba Forest reserve because the district leadership has no official communication from government.
He informed the residents that the 2021 presidential directive still stands pending veto from parliament and asked them not to panic thinking that they are going to be evicted from the area.
He assure the residents that if there is an change the residents will be consulted because it will be a policy matter and has to go through parliament.
“My people I implore you to continue staying in this area at peace since the 2021 presidential directive still stands pending veto from parliament and President Museveni is still the president of this country,” he said amidst a great applause from the enormous gathering.
The Bukatube Sub county LC.3 Chairman, Atube William challenged government to come up with a clear stand and state clearly where the residents in the 30 villages will go if evicted from their present homesteads.
Turning to the residents he begged them to remain calm and continue using government facilities in the area such as schools and health centers but ensure that they vote President Museveni into power for another term in office.
Why the said areas would be convenient for New Game Parks
Pian Upe :
Pian Upe is a stunning Protected Area found in the Elgon Conservation Area, Northeastern Uganda. It is joined by the Matheniko-Bokora Wildlife Reserves. This reserve started as the Debasien Animal Sanctuary, but it became a Reserve in 1960. Currently, Pian Upe sits on an area of 2788 sq. km.
Wildlife to explore on Pian Upe safari includes serval cats, reedbucks, elands, leopards, oribis, zebras, Uganda Kobs, duikers, wild cats, hares, and giraffes. About 242 bird species also exist and can be identified, including Northern crombec, Abyssinian ground hornbills, Wahlberg’s eagle, banded snake eagles, Dark-chanting-goshawk, Karamoja apalis, Hartlaub’s bustards, African pipit, and more.
Kigezi and Kyambura:
At the Kyambura Wildlife, there are lots of species to see, including primates and birds. The diverse attractions to explore here include colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, butterflies, birds such as papyrus gonoleks, black-rumped button, African skimmers, white-tailed lark, martial eagle, and many others.
Kyambura offers the best of chimpanzee tracking experiences, birding, nature walking, and more. Kigezi lies southward of Queen Elizabeth National Park and is 265 sq. km, consisting largely of extensive savanna plains and forests.
The common wildlife to explore in the Kigezi include bush duikers, giant forest hogs, bush bucks, topis, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, buffaloes, and birds such as peregrine falcons, red-faced barbets, and more.
Echuya :
Echuya Forest Reserve (National Park) is home to the world’s diverse species, including bird species like the Archer’s robin-chat, and also features a bamboo forest. This rainforest protected area lies in the Albertine Rift eco-region, between Rubanda and Kisoro districts. It is an important bird area, supporting an extensive swamp, “Muchuya Swamp.” It covers an area of 34 sq. km and lies at an altitude of 2270 to 2570m.
The diverse wildlife found in the Echuya Forest Reserve includes red-tailed monkeys, bushbucks, baboons, blue monkeys, and birds such as Grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori apalis, red-faced woodland warblers, Archer’s robin-chat, and more.
Bukaleba:
Bukaleba is a lush central forest reserve located in Mayuge District, about 120 km East of Kampala. It was established in 1932 and currently covers an area of 97 sq. km. Bukaleba inhabits birds such as African dwarf kingfishers, dusky long-tailed cuckoos, African pied hornbills, black and white casqued hornbills.
The mammals to explore include vervet monkeys, Kaiser’s bush rat, Northern giant musk shrew, African buffaloes, and more.
Toro-Semliki Reserve:
Established as a Game Reserve in 1926, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve is one of the oldest Protected Areas in Uganda, lying along the Albertine Rift Valley between the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Albert.
This Protected Area supports a range of habitats, including savanna grassland, open acacia woodlands, wetlands, and Borassus palm forests. These provide refuge to elephants, bushbucks, chimpanzees, waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, and more. The best way to explore the Toro-Semliki includes chimpanzee trekking, boat cruises, nature walks, and many others.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve:
It is an extensive savanna grassland, a rich ecosystem lying in Kyenjojo and Kamwenge Districts. Created in 1964 as a Game Reserve, Katonga is a valuable corridor for most migrating wildlife from Western Uganda to Tanzania and Sudan. It protects a total of 40 mammals and more than 150 birds. The main mammal species to find here include elephants, warthogs, reedbucks, waterbucks, sitatunga, and others.
The birds include Madagascar pond-heron, Goliath heron, dwarf bittern, white-backed night-heron, purple heron, striated heron, and grey heron, to mention but a few. The exciting experiences awaiting you in Katonga Wildlife Reserve include bird watching, game viewing, and nature walks.
