EARTH DAY 2023: SPOTLIGHT ON BUGOMA FOREST
The first time I saw Bugoma forest was in 2019. I was not the only first-timer when it came to seeing the forest. I was with a driver who, like me, was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
He and I marveled that such a big forest with huge trees still existed in Uganda. We told ourselves that the people in Western Uganda were lucky to host forests such as Bugoma as these conferred on them socio-economic benefits.
First forward to 2023: I returned to the forest and the sight that greeted me was heart-wrenching. I visited the part of the forest that is near Rwembaho village (Olwembawo in Luganda). The village is located in Kikuube district and it neighbours the Bugoma forest land where Hoima Sugar Ltd is growing sugarcane.
The destruction that the sugarcane growing project has wrought on the forest is indescribable, and painful to see. In places where trees that were hundreds of years old once stood are tree stumps today. The grand trees were felled.
Some proponents who say that Uganda must economically develop have argued that the sugarcane growing project in the forest must go on as it creates jobs. But, should development come at the cost of environmental destruction?
The Inclusive Green Economy Network-East Africa (IGEN-EA) argues that it should not. To highlight the conservation importance of conserving the forest, the network conducted research on the tourism potential of Bugoma forest in July 2022. The research showed the following:
That Bugoma forest is home to tourist attractions such as 570 or 11.4% of Uganda’s chimpanzees, 225 bird species, bush elephants, butterflies and others. In 2023, the media reported that the chimpanzee population in the forest has declined due to the forest’s destruction.
That the above biodiversity, alongside forest walks, tree climbing and others, can be harnessed to promote tourism in the forest.
The research also established that in 2022, habituation of chimpanzees and Uganda mangabeys was ongoing. The habituation of chimpanzees was expected to end in 2023, making the chimpanzees ready for tourism.
If promoted, tourism in Bugoma forest could earn the country over half a million dollars a year, the study showed.
Among others, the research recommended that Bugoma forest be turned into a national park to promote tourism and promote environmental conservation.
The above findings were shared in a blog that IGEN-EA published on August 4, 2022. The findings are being re-shared on this Earth Day to remind all stakeholders especially the Ugandan president, Minister of Environment, Minister of Lands and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) as well as development partners that no efforts must be spared in protecting and restoring parts of the forest that have been degraded.
Some areas of the forest have been degraded and must be restored, per the restoration order issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in September 2022. Other parts of the forest are at risk of degradation as sugarcane growing and community farms eat further into the forest. This must be guarded against.
As Uganda marks Earth Day, we must remember earth is the only livable planet that we have and we must work together to preserve it. Conserving Bugoma forest contributes to this cause.
*This blog has been authored by Diana Nabiruma with support of other IGEN-EA members.
