Hope Mafaranga

High Forest Depletion Irks Environment Minister By Hope Mafaranga In Fort Portal The Minister of State for environment, Flavia Nabugere has decried the high levels of forest depletion in Kyejonjo and Kyegegwa districts. The two districts are surrounded by central forest reserves and wetlands which have all been encroached on by members of the community. The forest reserves include Itwara, Matiri, Muzizi, Kibengo and Ibambara and the Kyerenga wetland. Touring Matiri Central Reserve, Nabugere tasked Luke Onzima, the Kyenjojo district forest officer to explain what his office is doing to curb the destruction of the forests. He said that forest office should work closely with the police to enforce environmental laws However Onzima told the Minister that they are failing to protect the forests from depletion, because of lack of funds for the natural resources department. He says that department is allocated inadequate funds which are meant to monitor enforcement of the envir