Environmental Activists Threaten to Sue NEMA over Bugoma Forest

National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has come under fire for issuing a certificate of approval for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report authorizing Hoima Sugar limited to destroy over 21 square miles of Bugoma forest to plant sugarcane and other activists despite an ongoing dispute over the land.

A group of Civil Society Environmental Activists under the Save Bugoma Forest Campaign are now threatening to take NEMA to court but also carry out public protests if the environmental Authority does not revoke the certificate.

“According to the ESIA Certificate issued by NEMA dated August 14, 2020 a copy of which we have, NEMA has permitted Hoima Sugar LTD to use 21 sq. miles out of the 22 Sq miles they (Hoima Sugar) leased from Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom at Shs 3 billion shillings against the will of NFA the chief custodians of all Natural forests and against the calls by Ugandans.  In the ESIA certificate, NEMA states that Hoima Sugar Ltd will plant sugarcane on 9.24 sq. miles, establish an urban Centre on 1.206 Sq. miles, establish an eco-tourism center on 1.97 sq. miles and restore forest on 3.13 sq. miles, among other economic activities but based on the way NEMA had facilitated the fraud and violated the laws of Uganda to issue the above certificate, no one should trust NEMA,” says a joint statement issued by the group.

At a press conference held on Sunday at Hotel African, the group further noted that they wanted the NEMA’s Executive Director interdicted and investigated for engaging and facilitating fraud to destroy Bugoma forest.

“Parliament should use its oversight powers to investigate the actions of NEMA, Hoima Sugar Ltd and Ministry of lands for their roles in this fraud. If NEMA does not revoke the ESIA certificate of approval to Hoima Sugar Ltd in the next 8 days, we shall organize massive public demonstrations in both Kampala and in Kikube and Hoima districts to express our disappointment against NEMA and government,” noted Dickens Kamugisha the executive director. Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO)

The group also want the Sugar Producers Association of Uganda, financials of Hoima Sugar Limited and the oil companies  to dissociate themselves from the actions of Hoima Sugar Ltd and commit that they will use their influence to ensure that Hoima Sugar does not destroy

“On Monday, the 24 August 2020, we shall file a case in the High Court of Uganda against NEMA and the Executive Director of NEMA as an individual for issuing the ESIA certificate of approval to Hoima Sugar Ltd to destroy Bugoma forest in total violation of the laws of Uganda. If the legal authorities don’t solve the issue, we shall call upon all Ugandans to boycott sugar from Hoima Sugar Ltd and its associates including Kinyara Sugar.” Kamugisha added.

The 900 hectares out of 2,223 acres of Bugoma Forest Reserve was leased to Hoima Sugar Company Ltd by the administration of Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom in 2016 for 99 years at a shs 3b.  Solomon Iguru Gafabusa, king of the ancient kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara  said the leased area was ancestral land and not part of the protected forest.

Bugoma Forest is home to 23 species of animals, including an estimated 550 highly endangered chimpanzees, Ugandan mangabeys (an endemic primate), 225 species of birds and 260 species of trees.

The post Environmental Activists Threaten to Sue NEMA over Bugoma Forest first appeared on ChimpReports.