Obongi, Uganda – The boundary opening of Era National Forest Reserve in Palorinya sub-county, Obongi district, has finally taken off after a clash between the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the community.
The boundary opening of Era Natural Forest was unceremoniously halted after the LC3 chairperson of Palorinya sub-county, Erwaga Luke, and the community of Palorinya became hostile, accusing the NFA of using force to open the boundaries of the forest.
They also accused NFA staff and technical staff of being behind the destruction of the natural forest reserve and charging one million shillings from each person who wants to graze their animals in the forest.
The Palorinya sub-county leaders and community accused the NFA of disregarding a security committee resolution which resolved that all stakeholders should be involved in the boundary opening. They chased NFA staff after the NFA deployed armed police to guard those doing the boundary opening.
The exercise hit a stalemate, after which both the community and the NFA petitioned the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Obongi, Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, to intervene in the matter.
The Obongi RDC, however, convened an emergency security meeting composed of the technical staff, political leaders from Palorinya sub-county, the district local government, and the NFA.
After the RDC’s mediation, the two sides agreed to work together for the boundary opening of Era Natural Forest Reserve.
