Green Deserts in Kigezi hide Food Insecurity- Bishop Rubaramira Says.

By Dickens Twinomujuni

The Bishop of Kabale Catholic Diocese Callist Rubaramira has said the reduced income at household level across Kigezi region is a big concern for the church and the Government because people are failing to live productive and meaningful lives.

According to Bishop Rubaramira, poor farming methods, monoculture planting of trees and laxity by District leaders to educate the masses has resulted in serious food insecurity and poverty among many communities in Kigezi region.

He explained that many visitors who come to Kigezi for the first time are amazed by the green hills covering vast swathes of land however they are unaware that people are sleeping hunger because of lack of food.

The Uganda National Household Survey 2019/20 revealed that Kigezi Sub-region emerged as the poorest region in Western Uganda with 27.8 per cent of poor people poor who largely still depend on Subsistence farming.

Plantation forests of Eucalyptus or pine can also be referred to as green deserts.

These trees are common in Kigezi for their economic value because when sold, they can be converted into charcoal for household use as well as electric poles.

Bishop Rubaramira made the remarks while in Rubuguri Parish, Rubuguri Town Council, Bukimbiri County where he offered the sacrament of confirmation to 310 minors.

Asgario Turyagyenda, the Chairperson of Rubuguri Parish Council said the church intends to plant more tea on its remaining pieces of land where communities can benefit daily income from collecting green leaf.

He noted that food insecurity is a serious challenge however if people have money in their pockets, they can buy food and even be able to pay for essential services like Health and Education.

David Ngabirano, a resident of Rubuguri and city businessman said people need to adapt to the new weather changes that have been caused by climate change.

He said many people lose their yields in landslides whenever it rains due to the hilly nature of Kigezi however if more people can listen to advice from farming experts, Kigezi region has capacity to be a food basket for other regions.

Many residents, especially from Kisoro cultivate their food across the border in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo due to the availability and fertility of the land.