Mayuge Leaders Urge Museveni to Honour 2010 Pledge on 500 Hectares of Bukaleba Forest Land

MAYUGE DISTRICT, October 29, 2026 – Leaders in Mayuge District have appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to honour a reported 2010 directive allocating 500 hectares of Bukaleba Forest Reserve land for resettlement, warning that thousands of residents risk eviction under plans to establish a wildlife conservation area.

The leaders raised the concerns on Thursday during prayers commemorating Anglican missionary Bishop James Hannington at Kyando in Bukatuube Sub-county, marking 141 years since his death on October 29, 1885.

Mayuge District Chairperson David Ziija questioned why the land was being earmarked for wildlife conservation despite the reported presidential commitment to provide part of the forest reserve for human settlement.

Ziija called on the government to clarify the status of the directive and engage local leaders and affected communities to prevent tensions surrounding the proposed conservation measures.

He also expressed concern over the handling of leaders opposing the decision, warning that interruptions by Resident District Commissioners could undermine efforts to represent residents' interests.

Bunya West Member of Parliament Aggrey Bagire echoed the concerns, recalling that President Museveni reportedly directed in 2010 that 500 hectares of Bukaleba Forest Reserve be allocated to residents for resettlement.

Bagire said residents had reportedly been given only a few days to vacate the land, describing the notice as unfair to communities that had settled in the area.

He also questioned reports that some residents' animals had been shot during enforcement operations, calling for clarification on the treatment of affected communities and their property.

The legislator proposed confining wildlife to the peninsula and securing the area with electric fencing to protect animals while allowing residents to continue living in their communities. He said the proposal should be considered alongside conservation requirements.

Beyond the forest dispute, Ziija asked the President to fulfil other outstanding pledges to the district, including Shs20 million promised to district councillors and rehabilitation of the Iganga–Bwondha road.

Bagire also appealed for the rehabilitation of the Bufulubi–Kyando road, saying its poor condition could affect visitors expected to travel to the area if the historical site is developed into a tourism destination. State Minister for Lands and Housing Persis Namuganza, representing the Minister for Ethics and Integrity, said the government was committed to supporting the annual commemoration and developing the historical site to benefit surrounding communities.

Namuganza disclosed that a committee had been established to plan the development of Kyando, adding that the government intended to invest in the project to create income-generating opportunities for residents.

She expressed optimism that the site would undergo visible transformation by the following year as implementation progresses.

Minister in Charge of the Presidency Milly Babalanda, who represented President Museveni as chief guest, encouraged religious leaders to promote household income-generating activities among their followers.

Babalanda said the President's development agenda emphasised agriculture, information and communication technology, industrialisation and tourism as pathways to improving household incomes.

She also encouraged young people to use digital skills to access employment opportunities abroad without necessarily relocating, while promoting small-scale industries to create jobs locally.

Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, who led the prayers, condemned violence and called on Ugandans to stop shedding blood. He also urged the government to expedite consideration of a proposal to declare Hannington Day a national public holiday to allow more Christians to participate in the annual commemoration.

Bishop James Hannington, an Anglican missionary from England, was killed in 1885 after travelling through Busoga towards Buganda. His death remains a significant event in Uganda's Christian history.

As government plans to develop Kyando into a tourism destination, Mayuge leaders are demanding clarification on the future of residents occupying the disputed Bukaleba land.

They want a solution that balances wildlife conservation, the reported resettlement commitment and the welfare of affected communities.