How population pressure on land in Rwanda affects forests in Uganda

Mediathese Ntamuhera sits beside her sick daughter in Kanaga central reserve forest in Kibaale District.PHOTO BY FELIX BASIIME 

By FELIX BASIIME

Posted  Wednesday, November 4   2015 at  11:56   http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/population-pressure-land-Rwanda-forests-Uganda/-/691232/2942590/-/10neq0kz/-/index.html

IN SUMMARY

It is a case of spill over effects, an issue in one country becoming a challenge in another. As the population grows, and the resources become scarce, many come looking for land and their first port of call are the forests.

KIBAALE: It is a sunny morning in a freshly opened up patch of land in Kanaga Central Forest Reserve, Kibaale District. The clearing is about 500 square meters, with gardens of beans, maize and cassava. In between the gardens, stand huge burnt-out stumps and logs.

Close by are newly constructed makeshift structures, scattered all over. Most of them are thatched with grass or covered with old tarpaulins.

In front of one, lies a young girl, Trifonia Tumuramye, 13. She is lying on a mat and covers herself with a cloth. Dirty sauce pans and jerrycans are scattered around the compound. 

The mother, Mediathese Ntamuhera, 34, sits beside her with a sorrowful look. They are part of hundreds of Rwandese, who found refuge in Uganda after fleeing land pressure in Rwanda. And that is in the forests of Uganda, especially those in Bunyoro region, particularly Kibaale District. The area is home to 16 gazetted forest reserves.

“I was born in Rwanda in Birungi, Nyamarundi, where our family settled on a small piece of land and we were told that there is land in Uganda,” Ntamuhera says. “We came here in Kibaale about 18 years ago. At the time, the locals were selling a big chunk of land between Shs150,000 and Shs 200,000. We bought a piece of land not knowing that this was a government forest reserve”.

“Since then we have had run-ins with [National Forest Authority— NFA] over evictions. We can neither trace the people who sold the land to us nor is there anyone who can compensate us,” she narrates. “I lost my husband in February; he got sick and died without any medication. In March, we were evicted from the forest reserve by NFA, I have nowhere to go, I am resigned to my fate.”

Despite other challenges faced by NFA to manage forests in Uganda, the country has weak systems that have failed to stem illegal migration, coupled with the refugee settlements around the country, where refugees mingle easily with the nationals.

Over the years, they have come to own property and some are Local Council leaders who at times abet illegal settlement in Uganda’s forest reserves.

Uganda has porous borders that foreigners find it easy to cross and settle in Uganda unlike in any other country in the Great Lakes region.

Between 1995 and 2005, Hoima had a total of 61,170 hectares of forests. Statistics from the district forest office indicate that 38,000 hectares of forests were depleted by 2011.

According to the 2009 National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), in 1990, Uganda had more than five million hectares of forest cover. But by 2005, only 3.5 million hectares (8.6 million acres) remained.

Conservationists estimate that Bunyoro loses about 7,000 hectares of forests annually. So, Nema warns that if deforestation continues at the present rate, Uganda will have lost all its forested land by 2050.

Fredrick Atugonza, the NFA supervisor attached to Kangombe in Kibaale District, points out that deforestation has led to the extinction of important medicinal tree species.

“For instance, the Lovore tree, which we no longer see. It is a medicinal tree and there are many others,” he says.
“The rains have reduced; the seasons have changed in the last 15 years of encroachment”.

The NFA Kagadi Sector Manager, Charles Ariani says, “This sector has 16 forests, but we found all forests were encroached on and cultivated with bananas, maize, sugar cane, tobacco and beans”. 

He remarks that he is not convinced about the excuses he gets. “People say that they are hungry and have nowhere to farm. But we tell them they must return to where they were before 1994. So far, more than 1,000 people have left the forests.”

He adds, “We told them that whether you have 20 children or came from Rwanda or Kabale many years ago, and you no longer know where you came from, you must move out of the forests.”

Deforestation cuts across the Albertine basin. As a way to deal with the problem, the Rwenzori Anti-corruption Coalition (RAC) and Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE), NGOs based in Fort Portal, have joined hands to help in the management of environment and natural resources particularly forest resources.

“This is been attributed to the manner in which these resources are managed at national, district and sub county levels. This has caused immense destruction of these vital ecosystems especially in the Albertine region,” reads their joint report released in June.

The NGOs have formed an inter-district (Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Mubende) multi-stakeholder forestry and environment forum.

It is a coordinating mechanism to promote the sustainable use of environment and forests, proper accountability and advocating for increased investment in the natural resources sector in the three districts.

The forum brings together all key players in environment and natural resources for increased planning and voices in sustainable natural resources management.

In the last decade, civil wars in the neighbouring Rwanda and DR Congo have led to a steady stream of refugees in Uganda.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees has settled hundreds at Rwamwanja, Kyangwali and at Kyaka in Kamwenge, Hoima and Kyegegwa districts, respectively.

Lately, hundreds of refugees especially from Burundi have flocked into Uganda and have easily mingled with Ugandans and settled anywhere they find hospitable.

What others say about forest encroachment in Uganda

“The issue is that people of Rwanda origin who came here for land were duped by the locals who sold to them part of the government’s gazetted forests, some of them have been evicted by NFA and are now landless. Among the forests encroachers, the Banyarwanda are about 45 percent, then the rest are the Bakiga, Bakonjo and the indigenous Banyoro” George William Bizibu, Speaker, Kibaale District.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

Why many incumbents lost NRM primaries in western Uganda

Bundibugyo District chairperson Jolly Tibemanya (L) and State minister for Primary Education and Bwamba County MP, Dr Kamanda Bataringaya (R), lost in the NRM primaries. PHOTO BY FELIX BASIIME 

By Felix Basiime, Enid Ninsiima, Ruth Katusabe, Ronald Tumusiime, George Muzoora & Edison Amanyire

Posted Sunday, November 1   2015 at  02:00

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Why-many-incumbents-lost-NRM-primaries-in-western-Uganda/-/689844/2936944/-/item/1/-/47xgksz/-/index.html

The wave of change in the NRM primaries did not only affect MPs, but lower councils too as some district chairpersons and councillors lost their flag bearer positions to new faces.

The just concluded NRM party primaries have seen some long-serving incumbents lose their flag bearer positions to new faces.

The reasons vary, ranging from poor service delivery to protest vote, while others lost due to demand for change by voters.

“To be honest, most incumbents have lost on principle. They promised what they could not deliver or what was not in their means,” says Mr Dan Rubombora, an opinion leader in Kabarole District, adding that, “They did not know what Parliament offers, they promised people roads, etc, and the trend will continue.”

Among the notable losers is State minister for Primary Education and Bwamba County MP, Dr Kamanda Bataringaya, who lost to Mr Gafabusa Richard, a new face in politics.

“People were tired of some of these incumbents, especially Dr Kamanda. He has been there for a long time,” says Mr Baguma Vivian Simoli, an opinion leader in Bundibugyo District.

Mr Musa Rujumba, an elder in Masindi District, says Bujenje County MP Kabakumba Masiko lost the primaries partly because she has a land conflict involving about five villages in her constituency.

But Mr Rujumba also says her implication in the UBC mast scandal could have had a part in her loss, although Ms Masiko was cleared by court over the matter.

“Having been an MP for Bujenje for three terms, people wanted to see a new face in names of Patrick Kasumba, who is young and vibrant,” Mr Rujumba adds.

Councils affected
The wave of change did not only affect MPs, but also lower councils as some district chairpersons and councilors lost the flags to new faces.

Bundibugyo District chairperson Jolly Tibemanya and his Masindi District counterpart Wilson Isingoma were some of the victims.

Mr Rujumba says Mr Isingoma took people for granted and invested little time in campaigns, adding that Masindi has not benefited much from government programmes compared with Hoima where government built a modern market and is currently building a hospital.

Mr Justus Arunga, an opinion leader in Kyenjojo District, says most incumbents lost in the primaries because they did not live to the people’s expectations. 
“They did not help in infrastructural development, especially in Kyenjojo district,” Mr Arunga says.

Petitions 

Five losers in the NRM primaries in Kasese District have contested the results and have petitioned the NRM electoral commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi, requesting for result nullification or a recount.

Mr Erifazi Muhindi on Wednesday stormed out of the Kasese District tally centre after he lost to incumbent district chairperson Mawa Muhindo Dura.

“I have decided not to take part in receiving results that are marred by a lot of irregularities. I have already handed in my petition citing my dissatisfaction of the results. I request that those results from Bukonzo East constituency and Katwe–Kabatooro Town Council be either recounted or nullified,” Mr Muhindi said.

Defeated Busongora South NRM flag aspirant Constantine Siwako said his results were altered at the tally centre since his copies read differently.

“I will not accept such results that have just been declared where the declaration forms at the tally centre are different from what we collected from the field,” Mr Siwako claimed after he lost to the incumbent Boaz Kafuda.

Two of the Kasese District Woman MP contestants, Ms Jolly Kateeba and Peace Winfred Bukundika, lost to Jane Asiimwe Muhindo and blamed the winner for manipulating the results.

“We have evidence that our colleague handed in declaration forms whose votes exceed the number of registered voters in the registers,” Kateeba argued.

But Asiimwe attributes her victory to efforts put in and also advised those who lost to use the courts of law for redress or support her since there is no losing in the NRM party.

Most affected are Woman MPs 
Save for Ntoroko Woman MP Jennifer Mujungu and Kamwenge Woman MP Dorothy Nsheija Kabareitsya, the rest lost. 

They include Kyegegwa District Woman MP Flavia Rwabuhoro, Bundibugyo District Woman MP Harriet Ntabazi, Kyenjojo Woman MP Lindah Timbigamba, Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Businge and Bujenje County MP and former Information minister Kabakumba Masiko.

Lost

Those who lost in the NRM party primaries include long-serving Kitagwenda County MP Nuru Byamukama, Burahya County MP Stephen Kagwera, State minister for Primary Education Kamanda Bataringaya and Kyegegwa District Woman MP Flavia Rwabuhoro.

Others include Bundibugyo District Woman MP Harriet Ntabazi, Kyenjojo Woman MP Lindah Timbigamba, Kyaka County MP William Kwemara, Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Businge, Kasese Municipality MP James Mbahimba and Ntoroko County MP Martin Bahinduka Mugarra.

Others are Bujenje County MP and former Information minister Kabakumba Masiko, Mwenge North MP David Muhumuza, Buyaga East MP Ignatius Besisira, Masindi District chairperson Wilson Isingoma and Bundibugyo District chairsperson Jolly Tibamanya.

How natural therapy, raw foods have helped breast cancer patient

Apofia Natumanya, a lecturer at Bugema University Kasese Study Centre, was diagnosed with breast cancer. PHOTO by Enid Ninsiima. 

By ENID NINSIIMA & FELIX BASIIME
Posted  Friday, October 30   2015 at  02:00

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Health---Living/How-natural-therapy--raw-foods-have-helped-breast-cancer-patient/-/689846/2934768/-/12sii76/-/index.html

IN SUMMARY

Creating awareness. When treating cancer, one does not merely rely on the medication prescribed by doctors. One must also adjust their diet and lifestyle in order to help the body heal.

At first glance, it is difficult to tell that Apofia Natumanya, 26, a young lecturer at Bugema University’s Study centre in Kasese is living with a deadly disease until she narrates her ordeal.
Natumanya, who has spent a year battling breast cancer, explained her situation to Daily Monitor.

Discovering cancer
“In January this year, I detected a foreign object in my breast as I was applying body oil after a shower. I told my mother who later said she was going to connect me to a specialist,” she says adding, “In mid-February while at home in Bushenyi, I went to see a specialist named Dr Kapuru in Kasese. After examining me, he told me that I had fibroids but they were not cancerous.”

“When I called my mum with the results, she insisted that I must see another doctor named Mugyenyi in Mbarara who gave the same results. I was also told that I should undergo surgery to remove the ball-like object in my breast,” she recounts.

Natumanya did not give up the struggle to establish exactly what had attacked her body and she proceeded to Devine Mercy hospital in Mbarara where samples were taken for further investigation to establish the cause of illness.

Three weeks later in April, she returned to Mbarara for review and more samples were taken. These, she also took back to the doctor for interpretation only to be told that the swelling in her breast had to be surgically removed.

“I was told that the only way was excision which I accepted and it was done successfully. When it was removed, the lump looked like a growing irish potato with many roots. Test results came out on May 22 only to be told that I had cancer which had advanced up to stage 3B,” she states firmly.

Need for surgery
Natumanya explains she was then advised the whole breast would be removed because cancer cells spread fast and the earlier it was done, the better. She was referred to Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago hospital. 

“Doctors prescribed chemotherapy for three months and after that came radiography. I was supposed to be operated on but on taking the chemotherapy, it had negative effects. I started taking herbs alongside the medical treatment,” she says.

“I was counselled to change my feeding habits and lifestyle. I was advised to stop eating meat, drinking milk and all dairy products. Immediately after the operation, another big mass started growing,” Natumanya notes.
She adds that she was advised by friends to use other food supplements from a herbalist named Daniel in Busiika, Bugema in Luweero District while also taking food supplements from Forever Living. She started the natural therapy.

The now jolly Natumanya says since she started taking Agraveria leaf and fruit, a mixture of Aloe Vera, raw foods such as fruits and a mixture of beet root, apple and carrot juice in the morning, the ball mass in her breast has disappeared and she feels better though her recovery has not been medically certified.

Challenges

Natumanya says that it is not simple for an average woman to get quick treatment from Mulago National Referral Hospital since there are many patients and doctors are few, moreover some are working on parttime basis.

She added that another challenge is the process of testing for cancerous cells which takes months and allows the disease to spread faster in the body.

However, she is thankful to God for early detection, moral and financial support from her family and friends as well as exercises, all of which assisted her to control the disease.

She appeals to government to subsidise the cost of cancer treatment to accommodate the average village woman who has no support at all and who cannot get access to Uganda Cancer Institute.

“I appeal to government to try to shorten the process of testing for cancer so that the disease can be controlled in its earlier stages,” she appeals.

She said that she has also used the Korean machine found in Mbarara which offers a type of radiotherapy which she thinks has helped as well.

She appeals to all cancer patients to accept the disease and live positively, use herbal drugs and change their feeding habits and above all, trust in God.

She plans to return to the hospital for review at the end of the year to check whether the changes she has experienced are real or just temporary relief.

Living with cancer 

Doctor’s word. “If one has breast cancer that is driven by oestrogen in the body, we restrict fat in the body. When we restrict fat intake, sugars, we are aiming at reducing oestrogen in the body especially with women who are on cancer treatment or those that have been diagnosed with breast cancer,” says Dr Fred Okuku. 

Patient’s story. 

“I was counselled to change my feeding habits and lifestyle. I was advised to stop eating meat, drinking milk and all dairy products.”