The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is massive encroachment and logging in Zoka Central Forest Reserve in Adjumani district.
The forest which is located in Itirikwa and Ukusijoni Sub Counties measures approximately 1,259 hectares. It is the only natural tropical rain forest and the only natural forest resource in Adjumani district.
However, there is currently massive encroachment on the forest through cultivation, development of homesteads as well as degradation through charcoal burning and logging and illegal felling of the Mvule and Mahogany trees.
William Amanzuru, an environmentalist and team leader of Friends of Zoka, a pressure group, told Uganda Radio Network (URN) that the new destruction and degradation of the forest is alarming.
Amanzuru says that the vice which had been fought a few years ago is recurring with several trucks transporting timbers from the forest, hundreds of trees felled using power saws and part of the forest already encroached on.
He explained that this is threatening to the survival of the forest which is preferably the only natural forest and biggest rain catchment as well habitat to the wildlife.
Jesus Iringa, the Itirikwa Sub County Chairperson says that they have tried to drive the encroachers and illegal dealers away from the forest but they are resistant and seem to be having backup of top government officials.
Ben Anyama, the Adjumani district chairperson disclosed that there are more than a hundred of temporary makeshifts erected in the forest and is mainly inhabited by tribesmen from the central part of the country.
He explained that the cutting of trees for charcoal and timbers from the Zoka Central Forest Reserve and the massive encroachment shot up in the past three months especially during the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus disease in the country.
Stephen Ojambo, the Forest Supervisor Zoka Beat said that several acres of the forest have uncontrollably been destroyed for timbers, charcoal and settlement adding that there are hundreds of timbers piled inside the forest by the illegal dealers.
He however explained that they are hand tied in evicting the encroachers following the Presidential directive against eviction during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
Peter Taban, the Ajumani Resident District Commissioner said that the security, district and local leaders and environmental activists are pondering plans for a lasting solution to the problems.
Simon Peter Okoshi, the Commandant Environmental Police Protection Unit disclosed that the destruction of the Zoka Central Forest Reserve has already come to their attention and a team of environmentalists and security have been dispatched in the area to curb the vice.
Okoshi however said that he was astonished during a recent visit when he discovered that a trading centre had been established within the protected area and the inhabitants have named it ‘’Buganda Trading Centre’’.
This is not the first time concerns are being raised over the destruction of Zoka Central Forest Reserve.
In 2016, the then Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda set up a four-member committee led by Mary Karooro Okurut, the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister to investigate the destruction of Zoka Central Forest.
