Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja together with Tourism Minister Tom Butime have officially handed over of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve from the National Forestry Authority to the Uganda Wildlife Authority following a presidential directive.
The directive aims at strengthening conservation efforts.
Before the official handover ceremony, the leaders conducted an on-spot inspection across sections of the forest where they discovered extensive degradation and deforestation.
Several individuals suspected of engaging in illegal activities within the reserve were arrested during the operation.
Addressing local leaders and residents, Nabbanja expressed concern over the continued destruction of one of Uganda’s most important natural forests, warning that environmental degradation poses a serious threat to biodiversity, tourism, and community livelihoods.
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to restoring and protecting Bugoma Forest, saying stronger enforcement measures would now be implemented under UWA management.
Nabbanja noted that forests such as Bugoma play a critical role in climate regulation, wildlife conservation, water protection, and tourism development.
“The destruction we have witnessed here is unacceptable,” she said during the inspection.
In a lighter moment that drew laughter from attendees, the Prime Minister jokingly suggested that UWA could consider introducing lions into the forest as an additional deterrent against encroachers and illegal loggers.
Tourism Minister Butime described the handover as a major step toward strengthening conservation efforts and safeguarding the forest for future generations.
The move comes amid increasing concern from conservationists and environmental activists over growing encroachment, illegal logging, and land degradation within Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.
Under the new arrangement, UWA is expected to take a leading role in forest protection, ecosystem restoration, law enforcement, and tourism development activities within the reserve.