Mabira forest
The Mabira Forest is a rainforest area in Uganda with an area of about 30,000 hectares. It is located in the Mukono district west of Kampala and has been a reserve since 1932.
The forest is home to hundreds of rare species. In February 2007 a new species of monkey, the Uganda mangabe , was discovered here. The Mabira forest stores millions of tons of CO 2 , lies on the watershed of two tributaries of the White Nile and also serves as a “buffer” against environmental pollution in adjacent areas. It is used for ecotourism with the support of the EU.
The Baganda believe that the forest is home to the spirits of their ancestors.
Farmers who illegally entered the Mabira Forest in the 1980s were mostly expelled from the area by the forestry authority in 1992. In 2007, deforestation plans sparked violent protests in Uganda.
Deforestation plans and protests
The Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (Scoul), which belongs to the Mehta Group , wanted to clear a third of the Mabira forest (around 7,000 hectares) in order to gain acreage for sugar cane, and had the Ugandan government clear this area for deforestation requested. President Yoweri Museveni and his cabinet supported the project.
The deforestation plans have been very controversial within Uganda. While environmentalists feared negative consequences such as the loss of hundreds of endangered species, increased erosion, damage to the livelihoods of the local population and damage to the water balance and the regional climate, supporters hoped that the project would create jobs. According to a document from the cabinet, 3500 jobs should be created and tax revenues of 11.5 billion Uganda shillings (equivalent to approx. 5.3 million euros) generated.
Critics, including a number of parliamentarians, also pointed out that the plan was illegal as it violated the constitution. In a survey by the newspaper New Vision , 81% of the parliamentarians surveyed said they were against the plan. The Kabaka (King) of Buganda spoke out against deforestation and offered land outside the forest as an alternative. The Anglican Church in Mukono has also offered alternative land.
At least three people were killed in a demonstration by around 1,000 people in Kampala for the protection of the Mabira Forest. One suspect of the looting was shot dead by guards and a passer-by was hit by ricochets. There were also riots against Asians because the Mehta Group is Indian owned; Protesters stoned an Asian man to death. Fires were also set on Scoul plantations and an e-mail and text message called for a boycott of the Scoul's Lugazi sugar.
About 32 people were arrested after the demonstration in Kampala, including MPs Beatrice Anywar Atim and Hussein Kyanjo. They are accused of murder, sedition and terrorism. A lawyer testified that the two were beaten and injured while in custody. Her arrest led to further protests. They are due to go to court on July 27th.
Museveni then announced that he would stick to the deforestation plan. He will "not let himself be deterred by people who do not see where Africa's future lies". The activists of the Save Mabira movement do not understand that the future of all countries lies in the processing (of goods). In May 2007, the Environment Minister announced that the plans would be suspended and that the government was trying to find alternative land for the Mehta Group .
Similar cases were the clearance of the Butamira forest for sugar cane and the forest on the island of Bugala in the Kalangala district for palm oil cultivation. While Uganda was 20% forested 40 years ago, 7% of it remains today.
swell
- Save the rainforest through the Mabira Forest
- Protest against deforestation plans on EcoEarth.info
- BBC News: Deaths in Uganda forest protest
- BBC News: Uganda leader defends forest plan
- New Scientist: Biofuel plantations fuel strife in Uganda
- en: n: Violence in Uganda over forest clearing proposal
- ^ Mabira Forest Reserve
- ↑ allAfrica.com: Uganda: Unsaid Things About Mabira
- ↑ New Vision: 72% of NRM MPs oppose mabira plan ( Memento of the original from April 22, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ New Vision: Kabaka Blocks Mabira Plans ( Memento of the original of June 8, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ BBC News: Ugandan police charge protest MPs
- ↑ New Vision: MPs trial set for July 27 ( Memento of the original from May 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ BBC News: Ugandan plan for forest suspended
- ↑ New Vision: Activists skeptical on new Mabira document ( Memento of the original from May 18, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
