Barnabas Kamusiime
The burning of Echuya forest this Wednesday is sheer ignorance that should be condemned, Bufumbira East Member of Parliament Hon Dr James Nsaba Buturo says.
Buturo says such is a backward mindset that should only worsen the effects of climate change, as recently witnessed in the May 2023 disasters in Murora and Kanaba Sub Counties.
The former Ethics and Integrity minister, who also served under the Information ministry docket termed the occurrence as unfortunate, and could as well worsen the effects of Climate Change.
“Such people deserve no space in our society. I urge the responsible authorities to investigate and punish the culprits.” said Buturo.
He was speaking to www.vomuhabura.com this weekend in the aftermath of the incident.
According to him, such fires will only cripple the possibility of gazetting the forest reserve as a National Park to boost the Kisoro’s tourism potential.
Fires ignited by a yet-to-be-identified group ravaged more than 80 acres spread across 12 hills and a wetland within the Echuya forest reserve from Wednesday night till Thursday. The fires were only doused by the Thursday night rains.
This forest reserve, spanning more than 34 square kilometers is shared by the districts of Kisoro and Rubanda, being a haven for diverse plant and animal species.
On Thursday morning, travelers got stuck due to the billowing smoke that made vision almost impossible on the Kabale-Kisoro road.
Authorities from conservation organizations and leaders from Rubanda and Kisoro districts say that unidentified individuals who purportedly sought to induce rains set the fires.
The affected hills within Echuya include Zugyi, Bukanama, Mbagayure, Gisha, Kuwabarozi, and Gihirondwa in Kanaba Sub County of Kisoro District, as well as Kankirane, Murubindi, Katabukyi, and Kigarama in Muko Sub County of Rubanda district.
The unfortunate incident is an annual recurrence, with parts of the forest typically catching fire on either side.
On Thursday, at least 50 residents, mainly fire gangs gathered to put out the fire, with little or no support from government entities charged with wildlife protection. The National Forestry Authority (NFA), who had not yet released a statement on the incident by Thursday evening, manages Echuya.
Local residents have expressed their disapproval of the forest burning, especially considering ongoing efforts for Uganda Wildlife Authority to take over its management for the betterment of the community. Both Rubanda and Kisoro districts have been agitating for the gazetting of Echuya as a National Park to boost tourism in the area.
The National Forestry Authority has faced criticism for inadequate staffing to conduct regular patrols within and along the forest to deter human activities leading to such incidents. Irakiza Christopher, a resident adjacent to the forest reserve indicated that the forest often falls victim to accidental fires caused by remnants from honey harvesting. He also highlighted that some individuals set fire to the wetland to generate smoke capable of inducing rainfall.
“Such people believe that once they burn the forest, rains come immediately.” said Irakiza.
Christopher lamented the National Forestry Authority’s apparent lack of sufficient commitment to safeguarding the forest. He further revealed that many community members hesitate to extinguish fires as they receive no rewards for their efforts.
Bagora Benon, who lives in Gitebe village, Kanaba Sub County believes that people who set the forest ablaze exploit limited patrols by National Forestry Authority (NFA) that has also failed to motivate communities for conservation.
Dr. Haruna Mutabazi, the Muko Sub County LC3 Vice Chairperson who doubles as the Chairman for Muko Echuya forest Conservation Development Organisation also says that NFA has come short of facilitating fire gangs yet they bear challenges like snake bites.
“Even if someone gets burnt or snake bites while fighting these fires, NFA will say they don’t pay or cater for locals, but its staff alone. This is hurting.” Said Dr Mutabazi.
The Kanaba Community Development and Echuya Forest Conservation Association (KADECA) Chairperson, Rubibi Yubu, appeals to the government and its agencies to consider support to community members that are fighting the fires.
Tumwesigye Seth, another resident and a member of Kanaba Community Development and Echuya Forest Conservation Association (KADECA) noted that different community organisations in Muko, Bufundi, Kanaba and Murora Sub Counties have been formed to aid the government in keeping Echuya secure, but NFA is failing to coordinate with them.
Meanwhile, residents also think that partitioning Echuya could minimise the magnitude of the recurrent fires.
Discussion about this post