By Jamirah Khassim
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) is under growing criticism for allocating sections of Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve in Entebbe to private developers—an action environmental advocates say contradicts the agency’s mandate of sustainable forest management.
According to the NFA’s official website, the authority is responsible for managing Uganda’s 1.265 million hectares of central forest reserves sustainably.
However, the recent clearing of parts of Kitubulu forest for development has sparked public outcry and accusations of institutional mismanagement.
This move also revives concerns about historical encroachment in Kitubulu. In 2018, a private developer controversially fenced off portions of the reserve to build cottages.
In 2022, Entebbe Member of Parliament Michael Kakembo led efforts to dismantle illegal structures, citing violations of environmental protection laws.
Environmentalists stress that the reserve plays a vital ecological role, including filtering pollutants before they enter Lake Victoria.
“This forest is part of the lake’s natural filtration system,” said a local activist who requested anonymity.
“When you clear it for concrete, you’re endangering both biodiversity and public health.”
Scientific data supports the reserve’s importance in preventing contaminants from reaching one of Africa’s most critical freshwater sources.
Broader concerns over Uganda’s dwindling forest cover add to the controversy. Research by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows forest land now covers just 1.9 million hectares—or 10% of Uganda’s total land area.
Much of this loss results from human activities such as deforestation for agriculture, charcoal burning, and unauthorized development.
While no direct peer-reviewed studies link NFA’s land allocations to specific ecological damage, experts warn that ongoing forest degradation threatens environmental stability.
Despite mounting criticism, the NFA has yet to issue a formal response explaining the legal and environmental grounds for the Kitubulu land allocations.
Pressure is growing for greater accountability and a thorough review of forest governance in Uganda.