Members of Parliament want the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to be audited over the disappearing forest cover in the country.
The law makers accuse the national forestry body of allegedly championing activities which have led to deforestation contrary to their mandate of promoting tree planting.
This was during debate of the report of the Committee on Climate Change on a motion for a resolution of Parliament urging government to address climate change.
The report presented by the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Climate Change, Ms Jacinta Atuto, during the plenary sitting recommended re-opening of forest boundaries and titles issued in gazetted forest land cancelled.
“Government should come up with incentives to encourage the public to plant trees,” reads the report in part.
However, Mr Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala County MP, said that while people want to engage in tree planting, on the other hand NFA permits people to cut down trees under the pretext of investments.
“We should first concentrate on protecting the existing forests. NFA should be audited for value for money on forests that have been cut down,” Mr Kivumbi said.
Mr Michael Bayigga, the Buikwe South County MP, requested for permission to move a motion on the dwindling forest cover, saying that there is a deliberate move to cut down forests.
“Very many forests are being cut down under the pretext of planting new trees. An example is Kifu Forest in Mukono which has all been cut down,” he said.
Buwekula South County MP, Mr William Museveni, called for enactment of a law which mandates every Ugandan to plant trees.
“It should be compulsory for every Ugandan to plant at least 10 trees annually. We are losing the forest cover because of human activities,” he said.
Ms Irene Muloni the Bulambuli District Woman Member of Parliament, called for urgent restoration of the forest cover in the Elgon region, attributing the recurring floods and landslides to the dwindling forest cover.
“Nature is fighting back. We need, as a matter of urgency, to relocate people and let trees occupy their natural space,” Ms Muloni said.
However, the Pakwach District Woman MP, Ms Jane Avur, cautioned against the eviction of people from forest reserves which are not gazetted and marked saying that some of them have lived in such areas for more than 40 years and that evicting them would cause conflicts.
“There are unknown forest reserves where people have lived for a long time. Government must follow processes of relocating such people as it is in the law,” she said.
The committee report further recommended stringent sanctions on people who acquire land in wetlands and ensure that degraded wetlands are reclaimed.
“Government should follow up with Parliament’s recommendation to cancel all land titles issued on gazetted wetlands,” the report reads in part.
Mr Silas Aogon the Kumi Municipality lawmaker, suggested an annual tax of Shs200m to deter people from encroaching on wetlands.
“Those who inherited wetlands and have lived there for many years should be relocated with alternative livelihoods. They should be given startup capital,” Mr Aogon said.
Mr Ibanda Rwemulikya, the Ntoroko County MP, faulted the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for purportedly applying the law selectively on those encroaching on wetlands.
“There is corruption! The poor are being chased away from wetlands while the rich are being given titles to construct in wetlands. Why are the laws being applied selectively?” Mr Rwemulikya wondered.
Mr Bosco Okiror, the MP for Usuk County, warned that the lack of will to implement the laws on climate change will only aggravate the problem.
“If we do not deal with climate change during our generation, it will destroy Uganda. I appeal for proper implementation of the laws,’ he said.
Adjumani District Woman MP, Ms Jesca Ababiku, said that whilst Ugandans are ready to take action against climate change, government is not consistent in implementation of the law on climate change.
The Minister of Transport and Works, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, reassured the House of plans to plant trees alongside every new major roads being constructed as a way of reforestation.
“We need to continue sensitising our people to stop cutting down trees,” said Gen Katumba.
State Minister for Environment, Ms Beatrice Anywar, said that the ministry will soon table regulations to operationalise the Climate Change Act, 2022 that will go a long way in restoration of degraded environment.
“A committee is already in place and I can say that it has so far done 30 per cent of its work. The work was, however, curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic where the budget was cut and this slowed the process,” Ms Anywar said.
She continued that cabinet passed the 10-year restoration programme which has restored the National Environment Fund and will see the Environment Police being supported by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces to enforce the laws on environment.
“Once we have the fund in place, we are going to do much more and this will include opening of boundaries of forest reserves. We must protect the environment if we want to have sustainable development. Nature is talking and we must listen,” said Ms Anywar.
