In December, 2019 a Court of Appeal judge allowed Hoima Sugar limited to destroy 22  Square miles of the disputed Bugoma Central Forest Reserve land in Hoima District and turn it into a sugarcane plantation. The National Forest Authority (NFA) had gone to the appellant Court to challenge a similar decision by the High Court.

Hoima Sugar Limited acquired the disputed forest land from the Omukama of Bunyoro in a move which the NFA and civil society organisations such as NAPE said was irregular and challenged it in Court. The court ruling shocked the world considering the huge importance of Bugoma forest in balancing the eco-systems in the region. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is yet to release the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) on converting Bugoma forest into a sugarcane plantation. Despite all these worrying developments, environmentalists still believe that with concerted efforts of different stakeholders, sobriety will reign and Bugoma forest can be saved.

In the article, published in Uganda’s New Vision and available via the link below, Mr. Rajab Bwengye of NAPE explains why Bugoma Forest should not be tampered with.