Residents Protest the Upgrade of Karinju Forest
Residents of Swazi parish in Kyamuhunga Sub-county, Bushenyi district have closed Swazi- Karinju road in protest against the planned move by Uganda Wild Authority (UWA) and the ministry of tourism, wildlife and antiquities of upgrading Karinju forest reserve to a National park.
The angry residents were on Sunday seen carrying placards, with written notes against the takeover, they blocked the Swazi road which they say National Forest authorities use to access Karinju saying the forest has been instrumental in their livelihood, with access to medicinal herbs, firewood, and others.
A section of residents noted that elevating Karinju forest to a national park will increase the chances of wild animals attacking them just like has been the case recently.
Speaking to our reporter, Tobias Ramsey who was leading the protestors said this forest has been useful to them in terms of social economic development as all the five factories in the sub-county use firewood from the grassland catchment area that employs a lot of people.
