ENTEBBE .
The Entebbe Municipal leaders are up in arms over National Forestry Authority(NFA)’s decision to give giveaway the remaining part of Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve land to private developers
A week ago , some of the said developers started clearing part of the forest to pave way for various development projects.
According to available documents seen NFA gave out licenses to different private developers to establish ‘eco-lodges’ within the forest.
Ms Debora Watase, one of the developers reveals that she was granted a 25-year license to operate within the forest, paying $1,500 annually (about Shs5.3million)
“NFA allowed me to operate within this area for 25years, paying $ 1,500 each year,” she revealed .
She added: “There has been a lot of encroachment on this forest, that is why NFA deemed it fit to allow regulated developments as we also protect the forest and as per now, NFA has given me three soldiers to protect my developments within the forest because some people had started harassing me.”
Abacus African Vacations Ltd ,one of the beneficiary campanies received NFA clearance on May 17, 2023 after being granted six (6) hectares (14.8 acres).
Another letter NFA dated June 27, 2024 addressed to Mr Robert Franklin Begumisa, the managing director of Abacus African vacations Ltd, shows that the forestry watchdog allowed the private developer to go ahead with the environmental and social impact assessment as guided by National Environment Management Authority (Nema) .
During the meeting, Mr Begumisa defended his action to fence off part of the forest , saying he was demarcating the land apportioned to him for development.
Also among the listed entities is Triple Sound investment Limited which was granted 114.2 acres of the forest on Block 443, Plots 369 and 371, in March 2022. The records also show that Megha Industries (U) Ltd acquired 3.2 acres on Plots 11, 13-17 and 23-25. A one Debora Mbabazi is said to have acquired 0.94 acres on Plot 18 while one David Hood Mpigi reportedly got 0.47 acres on Plots 7 and 8 Mirza Close.
Another company – Mulkin Enterprises Ltd is reported to have acquired 0.27 acres while New Nordic (U) Ltd was reportedly apportioned 1.2 acres of land on Plots 19-21 on Kibira Road.
According to Mr Robert Muhumuza, the NFA legal officer, the land titles in the names of Megha Industries had been cancelled and the rest are valid .
“We submitted for the cancellation of the remaining titles to the Uganda Land Commission. We are currently waiting for the public hearing and decision to that effect,’’ he noted.
However, Mr Rulinda insists that the ongoing developments in Kitubulu are illegal since NFA didn’t not consult the local leadership .
“We cannot sit back and watch when the remaining part of the forest is taken under unclear circumstances he said
Kitubulu forest is gazetted as a forest reserve under Article 245 of the Constitution, however it indicates that over 120 acres out of the 197 acres of the forest reserve were reportedly sold out, leaving only 77 acres of the forested area.