Agago residents leave neighboring forest reserve area for fear of eviction

Agago, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 40 households in Lapono and Lirakato Sub Counties, neighboring Napono Central Forest Reserve, have reportedly left their homes for fear of eviction by the National Forestry Authority, NFA.

In November 2023, hundreds of angry residents destroyed more than 50 concrete pillars that NFA had kept at Lira Kato Sub-County offices to be installed at the forest boundary, forcing NFA to halt the exercise.

However, last month, officials at NFA restarted a plan to open the boundary of the forestry causing fear of eviction among some residents who had lived there for decades. Some of them have abandoned their home and relocated to nearby sub-counties.

The most affected residents are from Kuludwong village with more than 600 people, as well as Kuludwong Central village.

Peter Oryem the LC one of Kuludwong central village, said more than 40 households have left the area, and his attempts to stop them from leaving have failed.

“Since NFA started saying this is a Central Forest reserve, people started leaving the area. Even those who had sworn to never leave the area because of the constant disturbance by stray elephants have left,” Oryem said.

Alice Adong, said people leaving because they are being threatened.

“We are on our toes. Let them [NFA] tell us where they are going to take us. This issue is worse than the problem of the stray elephants,” Adong said.

Joseph Ocen, a resident of Kuludwong Central Village, appealed to the government to come up with one clear message about the Central Forest Reserve and the fate of those who have lived there for ages.

Part of the fear stems from reports that NFA doesn’t seem to have an actual size of the land that there could be minerals in the area, as people have been sighted soil samples and planes that keep hovering over the area, and the presence of soldiers in the area.

In past documents, NFA claims that the Napono Central Forest Reserve, located in Lapono Sub-County and measuring 3,727 hectares (9,209 acres), was gazetted in 1948.

Amos Okot, the Member of Parliament for Agago North Constituency, noted that there are some fundamental issues that need to be addressed first before supporting NFA quest, such as the actual size of the forest reserve.

“When they are exposed, they keep changing their position of the size of the areas. They are hiding something people are yet to discover,” Okot said.

Leonard Ojok, the Agago district chairperson, asked the NFA officials to stick to the original size of the and during boundary opening, to prevent anger.

Michael Ajalon, the NFA range manager for Acholi and Lango sub-regions, said the boundary opening would not stop the people from using the forest to do low-impact activities such as fetching firewood, grass for thatching houses, and even performing rituals in line with their culture.

Aldon Walukamba, the communications and public relations manager at NFA argued that the fear of eviction stems from misinformation and disinformation by some political elites.

“That is propaganda and it is causing a lot of discomfort among the communities. NFA is known for collaborating and cooperatively working with the communities, to foster the government while protecting social policy results,” Walukamba said.

Walukamba, also denied allegations that NFA has interest in the area because of its alleged mineral potential.

“Issues regarding minerals are a mandate of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. So please, whoever is propagating information should know that they are causing discomfort among the community,” he said.

Walukamba, however, added that the boundary reopening is crucial for the sustainable management of forest resources and restoring the integrity of natural forest resources.

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