Why Locals Must Protect Mabira Forest Fr. Joachim Omolo Ouko, 16 August 2011 Ugandans should learn from Kenya where former President Daniel arap Moi is being criticised for having given out Mau Forest Complex in the Rift Valley Province. Mau is the largest indigenous montane forest in East Africa. Despite the fact that Kenyans resisted, Moi went ahead and gave it out. Now it is being reclaimed because the forest area has some of the highest rainfall rates in Kenya. Mau is the largest water catchment area in Kenya. Numerous rivers originate from the forest, including Ewaso Ng'iro River, Sondu Miriwu River, Mara River, and Njoro River. These rivers feed Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Natron, a salt lake located in northern Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border, in the eastern branch of Africa's Great Rift Valley. Like Moi, despite the resistance by Ugandans, President Museveni wants to give away part of Mabira Forest for sugarcane growing to Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (Scoul) in Lugazi, to increase sugar production. It is to be recalled that the first attempt by Scoul, which is owned by the Mehta Group, to have one-third of the forest for the same purpose in 2007, met stiff public resistance that led to demonstration that left three people dead. http://www.newvision.co.ug An aerial view of Uganda's Mabira Ugandans were resisting because like Mau Forest, Mabira is a rainforest area covering about 300 square kilometres. It has been protected as Mabira Forest Reserve since 1932. It is home to many endangered species like the primate. Although the forest has been protected and reserved since 1932, President Museveni has not given up the plan to transfer part of the forest to Scoul despite the fact that the plan was opposed by Ugandan citizens. Ugandans opposed to the giveaway argue that de-gazetting the forest to some individuals for development would lead to the loss of hundreds of endangered species, increased erosion, the damage of livelihoods of local people and negative impacts on water balance and regional climate. On the other hand, those for the plan argue that it would create jobs and contribute to the national treasury. According to the President, the Save Mabira activists "don't understand that the future of all countries lies in processing". In 2007, when the plan was first resisted by angry protesters, the environment minister announced that the plans were suspended and that the government was trying to find alternative land for the Metha Group. Mabira is one of the biggest natural forests in Uganda, acting as a water catchment area for Lake Victoria Basin, which is the largest fresh water lake in the world and the source of River Nile- one of the longest rivers in the whole world. People for Peace in Africa (PPA) Nairobi, Kenya www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org .