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It has been affirmed now that the Big man has given the go-ahead yet again for Mr Mehta to carry-on with his plans to harvest further into Mabira Forest.  On a background of mixed reactions both from the ecological society of Uganda and the pro-industrialisation lobbyists, the wheels of change are set in motion.  What is the true benefit to the nation as a whole to the actions of Mr Mehta's plans and how is the outcome of this sellout of a national heritage to be regulated?

I have received several sms from several people in the last 2 days reading: 'Save Mabira forest. DO NOT buy Lugazi sugar. Please send to atleast 5 people'. The stakes concerning Mabira have just gone up.

Now that the Kabaka has entered the fray this is now going to become a global issue. The funny thing is that President Museveni has remained silent and not issued a single statement. Hopefully this will make Museveni step down as he has been a failure in the good goverenace of the country.

Kabaka has done it!!  He has offerd his land for sugar development and etc factories but does not want Mabira forest to be turned into an area for industires. BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO, Finally its the cultural leaders coming out to appear on the National Stage. May be its really the beginning of a new era for Uganda !! Lets wait to see how the drama unfolds from now onwards because we now have a new actor on the Stage.

 But if the new actor on the National Stage gets a lot of applause, and a good standing ovation from the whole nation of Uganda, then be sure someone is stealing the show and  A NEW ERA HAS BEGAN ---- The Lion of Buganda has began to roar. But there is a saying that IF THE LION ROARS <> CAN THE SMALL  CALABASH REFUSE TO SHAKE? or better put in Runyakitara Language, ENTALE OBU EBUKURA <> AKASISI  RUNDI AKATAHYO TIKASOBORA KULEMA KATATENGESERE?

And where do we go from here?

Remember what the famous British Priminister John Major (I think) said?

 -  He gave the quote of the Millenium. ---- that as the play comes to an end, he reminded us that 

WHEN THE CURTAIN FALLS  <> THEN ITS TIME TO GET OFF THE STAGE!!

 

The Uganda Media is not afraid to say it, and its the Daily monitor of Saturday, March 24, 2007 putting it in black and white for all to see:

ENVIRONMENTAL SAVIOR - Kabaka  Ronald Mutebi has offered his land in Kyagwe county so that Mabira Forest may be spared.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news03241.php

Will the Cabinet and parliament and the President accept the offer or will it be like bending down too much to start dancing to the tunes of Buganda's rise to the National Stage of Environmental issues that my eventually turn into political issues no soner than later? I just hope that the administration will be able to handle this without an another episode of TIYA GAASI !!!

As we await deliberation of cabinet and parliament - which actually boils down to just Mr Pulezident & possibly a well-sealed envelope by Mr Mehta... - your comment on tiya gaasi brings me out in a cold sweat for a planned birthday suit demonstration (taking a leaf out of Mrs Wangari's actions!) seeing as the adminstration on ground is hooked on the gaasi spray. Administration prolly need to be checked for drug abuse... 

Mr Mehta - if you truly love Uganda as your home and consider yourself to be Ugandan - now is your turn to show it so that the legacy of your industry is one that goes down in history as a positive addition to the country. Yes we need employment and industrialised production - all we ask is that it's balanced without forfeiting our ecosystem any further. Global warming is a reality - your sugarcane plantations might have to be fighting off freak bush firestorms as already witnessed in other parts of the globe.

I do hope that the selling out of Mabira Forest does not happen. Mr. Mehta should know that this forest is a most precious part of Uganda. And now that the Kabaka has offered land instead of Mabira Forest this should be accepted as a solution. Unfortunately Mabira Forest has suffered enough already in the past.

admin:

Well  guess what next after the sale of MABIRA FOREST?

I shudder to think what next, and I shivver at the thought that more forests will be given away so as to create room for FACTORIES. Then why all the noise by Govt and its leaders that every family is to plant trees as a national priority. And now all that is like water falling on the KIVEERA, not sinking any more, no more believing in the advice of the administration. I look back and see tha some of the best lands of Bunyoro were gazzetted as Forest Reserves by the British Colonial Masters to depopulate the Kingdom and then the forests were given to the Colonial and later on to the Indepent Country new African Leadership. Here are the cultural leaders demading for a return or their land and forests and then we see that even some of it is being given away ----- Is it a way to reduce the poverty of the nation or of the kingdom? 

Oh better be on the look out because next wiil be the sale of another big forest - BUDONGO FOREST in Masindi District-Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom near Kinyara Sugar works since its the Sugar Industry that seems to be interested in the forests that have been here for centuries.

And then next will be the sale of another big forest - BUGOMA FOREST  in Hoima District-Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom near the Kyangwali Refugees Settlement  Area. and here there is the Kisaru Tea Factory that ay also be give more land so as to expand.

Then what will happen to the forest reserves and the game reserves? Its the future generations that will look back at us and judge us saying why did we not stop the leaders from doing this BIG MISTAKE of DISSAFORESTATION BEING EFFECTED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF MODERNIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION  -------

May be these are the fruits of Bonna Bagaggawale, but if we are to loose the National treasures for the sake of foreign investment and industrialisation, haa bannange !! I shudder to think of what next. I can now see more and more people determined to enter the forest reserves and settling there for agriculture and house construction, and animal farming. I wonder what gavt will now say to those who will refuse to evacuate the forest reserves. And the conflicts for land will continue as has been the case in Kibaale District with migrants settling in some of the areas gazzetted as forest reserves.

May be now that Kabaka has stepped on the NATIONAL STAGE, the DRAMA is for sure taking on some good presentation, and the other cultural leaders especially of Bunyoro sould be on the look out that we do not loose BUDONGO AND BUGOMA FORESTS as well.

Where are we going?  NEAR? or  FAR? or are we loosing the COMPASS that should have given us the sense of direction as to where we are and where exactly is the Magnetic North? to loose the indicator on the compass may make us get completely lost as we will not be able to know where we are.

Well Ugandan politicians are too corrupt. Why did they let Museveni bribe them to scrap presidential term limits? Well they are now choking on these bribes and are powerless to stop whatever Museveni decides to do to further destroy the country. I think the kabaka should rally the Ugandan people around to support the environmental issues as he has enough political clout.

nanganda:

Well Ugandan politicians are too corrupt. Why did they let Museveni bribe them to scrap presidential term limits? Well they are now choking on these bribes and are powerless to stop whatever Museveni decides to do to further destroy the country. I think the kabaka should rally the Ugandan people around to support the environmental issues as he has enough political clout.

Yes I fully agrre with you. I think the leaders from LC1-LC5- all the way to  MP-Top --- they should always remember the philosopher who said:

YOU CAN ONLY LEAN AGAINST SOMETHING THAT RESISTS, <> OR WHEN ITS TIME TO FALL, Yes IT CAN BE  A FALL

And then there is the African saying; WHEN TWO ELEPHANTS FIGHT <> ITS THE GRASS THAT SUFFERS. 

 

admin:

Gerald Businge & Admin thank you so much for this article!  It has left me moved to the point of weeping at the way in which we are destroying our motherland.  The words of one mixed race Sioux friend come to mind when she compared the actions of the early settlers from Europe did to her ancestral land of the now called US.  Basically, this planet is like our mother and our misuse of all she has put out to nurture us will dry out and then we if not our offsprings will truly pay the price.  I commend Ken Lukyamuzi's actions along with those of one of the cultural leaders of our country - the Kabaka. Thank you. 

I would like to call upon all Ugians - old and young especially as this is your future legacy to act now to stop this runaway gravy train that is bleeding our motherland to a point of inviting the sahara desert to move south! 

The Mehta group exploits the deficiency in the works of ministry of forestry.  It is a known fact by most who've excelled or specialised in this field of study that forestry involves planning that entails monitoring and replacing trees at given intervals.  The division responsible to ensure that such areas as forests/conservation areas are maintained accordingly  - something that obviously has records low on the aims of the current leadership which is more interested in quick rich schemes which the Mehta group is only happy to provide.  They are business people and moral conscious is obviously not high up on their scheme of things.

By the mere fact that I returned to Uganda last year and trees that used to grace the capital in an area which used to be known as "bat valley" were like a dream I used to have as a child, only highlight the plight of greenery which is under attack today in Ug.  It's ironical as Tiica says that we have on one hand the drive for the public to all participate in tree planting when no effort was made in the planning of these development constructions that were being put up. I seem to recall a remark made by the pulezident on palm trees being suitable trees to grace our habitat in place of those that were being uprooted or cut down.  I wonder - can we introduce buffalos to the meat industry of Ug and eradicate cattle... I digress actually considering huge contracts have already been signed with various markets here in holland in keeping the cattle in place!

In effect therefore, sugarcane plantation or tea plantations are just as acceptable an equivalent for the eradication of the natural habitation - simply natural habitat has to make way for modernisation.  Madhvani is also checking to get his cut in all the giveaways taking place so yes Tiica - after Mabira, those areas up north or east and beyond are next in line for the giveaways.

Question I put to all of us is what can we as individuals do to address such issues in addition to those already showing to make a concerted effort.  Perhaps May 1st ought to be a day to mark down in our calendars to raise funds to support our forestry industries in conjuctions to the message put out by Ken Lukyamuzi.

SB

I like your idea of fundraising to support the ppl fighting to sell Mabira Forest.  The next thing we can do is letter writing to the politicians and let them know we do not want to sell our forest to the highest bidder of development.  I do applaud the Kabaka for offering a solution.

Development can happen without distroying our natural environment.

Lets Save Uganda's nature

 

Disclaimer

 

The message that follows and all the ideas expressed or indicated there in are the views of the sender and not the company where he/she works. Its an expression of individual feelings about issues and shouldn't be taken to imply the stand of our respective company. If you would rather not read then just delete it other wise continue.

Facts About Uganda

 

1. Investment is very good for this country.
2. Electricity is a heavy contributor to investment.
3. Over 80% of Uganda's Power source if Hydro Electricity.
4. Over 80% of Uganda's Hydropower is generated from the river Nile which enjoys a 60% water shade from Mabira' rainfall contribution.
5. The government of Uganda wants to give away Mabira forest to sugar cane investment.
6. Sugar factories are run with Hydropower which is generated from the Nile that is feed by rainfall generated by Mabira.
7. Worldwide there is no (scientific) manufacturer of raw materials for food stuff all food stuffs are grown from the soil.
8. Uganda depends on agriculture that is based on rainfall to grow its food and cast crops.

Statistics

 

Ø       Mabira forests contribute the generation of about 50% of Uganda's total Rainfall per year.

Ø       Uganda is ranked 3^rd worldwide in deforestation cutting down about 2.5% of its forests per year.

Ø       At the destruction rate of 2.5% of Uganda's forests, which is exactly proportionate to the desertification rate at the same percentage, 25 years from today Uganda will be a total desert.

 

Implications

 

• The Sugar cane project will fail because of lack of enough rainfall yet sugar canes need a lot of rain.

 

• If irrigation was to be adopted, it would still require water from Lake Victoria which benefits heavily from the rain generated by Mabira.

• We can easy import sugar but we cant say the same about Electric power.

 

• With the high desertification Uganda will soon not have enough food for its people.

 

• Even If the sugar was to be produced, there would be no power to run the factories and if the other option of petrol generators was to be used, the cost of sugar would be higher than imported sugar because of the high cost of petrol in Uganda.

Practical Examples

Australia is currently considering recycling sewage to purify it and make bottled drinking water because of a long draugh that has lasted over 7 years.Yes that is tru and you can read about it on the internet Click Here

Conclusion

 

Let us all fight for nature. Lets come out and protect all our forests especially MABIRA FOREST. To show solidarity,

DON'T BUY SUGAR FROM LUGAZI LUGAZI SUGAR IS BLOOD SUGAR

Send this mail to all people in your address book, and ask them to that in return.

GOD will surely hear our voices. Don't  just sit and watch, Save your children, and grandchildren's future, conserve Uganda's Nature.

Please sign the petition

http://www.petitiontime.com/ViewPetition.aspx?key=savemabira

Just a thought... do petitions achieve anything?

SB

In America petitions work great.  They put the fear of (God) the people in the politicians, if they do not carry out ppl's business they face a recall. 

Oh as the Ugandans are making alot of appeal to the Big-man-Boss and the Cabinet and Parliament not to give away Mabira Forest to the SUKAALI Industry called METHA YEKKA AGAGGAWALE, but instead the forest should be left for all Ugandans of BONNA BAGAGGAWALE,

The question is : To hear he will hear, BUT WILL HE LISTEN? 

Is there an update on this email campain to save the forest?

TIICA:

The question is : To hear he will hear, BUT WILL HE LISTEN? 

Can you imagine that pipo have resorted to pray for the saving of Mabira Forest? and to pray that CORRUPTION be uprooted from the hearts of the ones  endangering the development of the nation?

see http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/557304

I'M wondering what the *** do people have distroy every beautifull thats given to them?

silence

why does the prez. feel the need for war?                                                                                                                   

why is the hungry mouth of a newborn baby ignored?

how could a women abort a whole generation?

why is america called a beautiful nation?

answer me this

is it the world the undertaker just kissed?

please just tell me now

is there a limit of distruction that jah will allow?

there must be a problem when you cant go a day without veiwing destruction and violence

all i ask for is total and complete......................silence-- They live big today, thinking they big trees, small axes will bring them down!!! There minds are cofused with confusion, the heathen!!- do good and good will follow, sell your people and it will come back to you!!! the big one he's was once just a baby!!

Qsheeba:

Is there an update on this email campain to save the forest?

 

I surely read the news that there would be a demo for Mabira forest ad then I asked myself:

ARE THE DEMO PARTICIPANTS READY FOR THE TIYA GAASI EPISODE?

And guess what?   yes, they were MET, yes, met with TIYA GAASI  and  DEATH !

But for how long will this MEETING-meeetings last in this LAND OF FREEDOM

as our National Anthem calls it: 

 <>    its  <>  OH UGANDA   <>  THE LAND OF FREEDOM  <>   WE LAY OUR FUTURE   <>  IN THY HANDS  <>   UNITED FREE   <>  FOR LIBERTY  <> TOGETHER   <> WE