Not climate-related, not directly, A series of wildfires have swept through private forests in Nakasongola District, leaving a trail of destruction as farmers, investment companies and private landowners are stranded.
District authorities estimate that more than 1,000 hectares of plantation forests and gardens in three sub-counties have been drastically degraded.
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The origin of the fires is yet to be ascertained, but strong winds have fueled their rapid spread, worsening the devastation.
“We don’t know the source of the wildfires, but the damage is worrying. Our bosses brought in some fire tenders to try and contain the flames that threatened to destroy more plantations,” Nakasongola District LC5 Chairperson Sam Kigula said.
Nile Fibers, which President Museveni commissioned and, at the time, directed authorities to investigate wildfires and prosecute individuals found guilty of setting them, an investment firm dealing in wood products at Kinoni Village, lost about three square miles of its plantation forests.
In Katuugo Sub-county, another private plantation forest company suffered significant losses. Abdul Aisu, a manager at the company, said they lost 90 acres of pine and eucalyptus trees to the raging fires on February 23.
“My boss owns about 156 acres of plantation, but nearly 90 acres have been destroyed. The origin of the fires is not known. We appeal to the police to investigate and the government to provide assistance,” he said.
Abel Bakunda, the Nakasongola Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), said no suspects had been arrested yet, but security agencies are widening investigations.
“The police are actively investigating these unfortunate incidents. We have expanded our scope to find those responsible for the destruction of forest cover,” Bakunda said.
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