KIKUUBE; RESIDENTS WANT DEMARCATION OF BUGOMA FOREST BOUNDARY REDONE

By Innocent Atuganyira

KIKUUBE:

Residents neighbouring Bugoma central forest have protested against a boundary opening activity.

During a meeting held by residents at Buhaguzi county headquarters, residents say they want the Kyangwali-Ngogoli boundary opening activity repeated since the Ministry of Land and National Forestry Authority {NFA} did not involve the kingdom authorities and indigenous people.

Ausi Byenkya a resident of Bugambe revealed that when ministry of lands came to reopen the Kyangwali-Ngogoli land boundary did not involve the natives not even the local council one of Ngogoli village knew what was happening in his village thus want the exercise redone for peace to reign.

‘’When the ministry of lands came to reopen the boundaries didn’t not involve the natives even local council, one exercise, we want the exercise to be redone for peace to reign,’’ he said.

Cyson Mugume a resident of Buhimba narrates that they wrote to Bunyoro kitara-kingdom to avail them with 8 square miles of its land that was idle so that they can put it into use.

Mugume says to their surprise, the national forestry authority claimed the very land just because it has grown trees thus requested the kingdom to come out and caution the NFA so that they reopen the boundary in front of everyone.

Gerald Baleke the Bunyoro kitara-kingdom Buhaguzi county chief explained that they agreed with the ministry of lands that when they are demarcating the Kyangwali – Ngogoli land boundary they were to use the map of 1932 but in the end they used the new map which was not valid and ended up demarcating even the kingdoms’ land.

Baleke says as residents they are not happy with what the ministry of lands and NFA did by going ahead to open the boundary of the land without the presence of kingdom officials, local council one of Ngogoli village and the natives.

He called upon the kingdom officials to wake up and fight for the people’s rights and equality so that Banyoro will learn to appreciate their kingdom.