Residents near Kafuga forest in Nkuringo and Rubuguri town councils have
been advised to stop cutting down the forest as the best method of conserving
the environment.
The request was made today by Kisoro district
environment officer Muja Judith in an advocacy meeting with the locals near the
forest to know the projects locals do in the forest.
The advocacy meeting was facilitated by World wide
fund (WWF) to help the district conserve the environment.
Kafuga forest is a 161 echoers land located in four
villages of Rushabarara, Nombe, Kahurire and Nyabicece all in Rubuguri and
Nkuringo town council and the government is in preparations of gusseting it.
In the meeting, locals said that they have many
projects in the forest including bee keeping, herbal medicine and many others.
They requested the government to allow them to continue with their projects in
the forest even when the forest is gazzeted.
While answering the locals, the district senior
environment officer Muja Judith and tourism officer Munezero Richard told
locals that the government will not stop locals from using the forest after
gazzeting it but they will rather help in doing the multiple zones.
Beatrice Kabihogo, representative of World wide fund
(WWF) said that WWF is working hard to conserve the environment and the
organization will keep supporting the district to conserve the environment.
Meanwhile the acting LCII Chairperson of Rubuguri ,
Hategeka Gad thanked the district local government in partnership with WWF for
the plans they have for Kafuga forest.
