Natural Resources

 

The Department of Natural Resources comprises of four (4) major sectors and these include;

·         Forestry

·         Land Management Unit

·         Environment

·         Administration

Sector Mandate:

To ensure sustainable exploitation and utilization of the District Natural Resource Base

Sector objectives:

1.   To promote sustainable utilization and management of environmental, natural and cultural resources on land for social-economic development;

2.   To ensure planned, environmentally friendly, affordable and well-distributed human settlement for both rural and growth centres within the district ;

3.   To increase public awareness on environmental conservation, preservation and climate change;

4.   To undertake restoration of degraded areas;

5.   To promote tree growing  and agro forestry practices as commercial enterprise;

6.   To manage and protect all government land within the district;

7.   To ensure proper and legal land allocation, registration, utilization and transfers of interest of land in the district;

8.   To promote energy saving   initiatives among memebrs of the community;

    

 

 

Planned Activity

Out-put/Outcome Indicator

Target

Progress Achieved

Details/Comments

Administrative office

Appraising of staff

No. of staff appraised

8

8

All the eight (8) members of staff were appraised

Participating in recruitment of staff

No. of staff recruited

5

4

Participated in interviews to select; Tourism Officer, Physical Planner,

Senior Environment Officer, Senior Assistant Secretary/DLB and Staff Surveyor

Paying staff salaries and checking the payroll

No. of staff paid salary

8

8

All staff received salaries during the period in question

Enforcing settlement of advances

No. of advances settled

On case by case basis

Settlement is on case by case basis

All monies advanced to individual officers were settled

Developing proposals for funding under UWA revenue sharing scheme

No. of proposals developed and submitted

10

10

All 10 proposals for 10 Parishes were developed and submitted to UWA

 

 

Attending TPC and other meetings

No. of meetings

12

12

Attended all meetings and where I was not personally, the department was always represented

Carrying out outreaches

No. of outreaches

14

14

Outreach programmes were carried out and focus on; importance of Land registering, physical planning, conflict solving and environment sustainability

Forestry

Collecting revenue

Amount of revenue collected

3,000,000

5,190,000

·                     All revenue collected was banked on the District General Fund A/C.

·                     However, a no. of factors have contributed to the low local revenue collection. These include lack of facilitation to carry out patrols and field surveillance, lack of transport and inadequate staff in the sector  

Procuring eucalyptus seedlings

No. of Hectares planted

No. of schools participating

No. of homesteads participating

 

40,000

44,443 Eucalyptus grandis seedlings were procured

(This converted makes 17.8Ha planted)

·                     26 selected primary schools and 9 refugee host homesteads received 33,332 and 11,111 eucalyptus grandis seedlings respectively under DDEG support (17.8Ha).

Carrying out forest extension services

No. of farmers visited

No. of farmers participating in tree planting

300

200  farmers visited

·   In adequate funds to facilitate the process

Establishment of agro-forestry demos

No. of demos established

1

None was established

·   Funds were not released

Carrying out surveillance and enforcement

No. of inspections

No. of trucks carrying illegal materials impounded

No. of tools impounded

10

12 inspections carried out

·   8 Truck impounded

·   2 Chain saws confiscated

·   1 hand saws confiscated

Land management

Conducting DLB Meetings

No. of meetings

4 meetings

3 meetings conducted

·     DLB meetings are conducted quarterly basis

·     358 Applications were received for consideration

·     All cases were considered

·     354 cases were offered freehold

·     4 cases were offered leasehold

Processing and acquisition of certificates of titles  for private people

No. of titles processed

100 certificates of titles

More than 100 certificates of titles issued

·     This is surveying is private and different field surveyors have processed certificates of titles.

Processing and securing of certificates of titles Sub County head quarter land

No. of titles secured

12 sub counties

2 certificates of titles secured

·     Due to data capture and computerization at surveys and mapping in Entebbe has delayed the production of deed plans for the remaining sub counties

·     Surveying of Byabashambu government was done and the process of acquiring the certificate of title is ongoing.

Settlement of  land disputes

No. of disputes settled

20

3 land related issues disputes settled

·     Two disputes were settled in Kanyegaramire between Andrew Kaguhangire Vs Eric Sande and Andrew Kaguhangire Vs Edinasi Katuri

·     One dispute was settled in Rukunyu Trading centre between Rev. Christopher Kwizera  Vs Herbert Nkabyesiza

Training of Area Land Committee members [ALC]

No. trainings conducted

8 trainings

No tanning conducted

·     There was no funds released for this FY

Implementing of the Physical Planning Act

Visiting sites

Recommending building plans

 

 

 

No. of site visits

No. of building plans

 

 

 

30 sites  

40 building plans

 

 

 

14 sites visited

 24 building plans recommended for approval

 

 

 

·     Some developers do not declare their developments.

Collecting revenue (Land fees)

Amount of revenue collection

6,000,000

2,900,000

·     The collections have not been up to the planned level due to establishment of MZO office at Kabarole District and thus no work was going on since 2015 leading to low turn up.

·     No funds to carryout sensitization of the masses about land registration.

Environment

Training in climate change and environment mainstreaming

No. of trainings

6 trainings

6 trainings

·     Trainings carried out in Busiriba, Nkoma, Biguli, Mahyoro and Ntara Sub-Counties

Developing Sub County wetlands action plans

No. of  SWAPs developed

2

None

·     Lack of  funds

Carrying out community training in  wetlands management

No.of community trainings held

6

5

·     Community trainings in  wetlands management were carried out in Kasojo, Busabura, Kaburaisoke, Kiziba and Byabasambu

Conducting environmental inspections and monitoring

No. of inspections carried out

8

6

·      Inspections were carried out in Lyamungonera wetland, Kahunge Sub-County, Rushango in Kabambiro Sub-County, Kikoyo wetland in Buhanda Sub-County, L.George Ramsar site in Mahyoro and wetlands in Bwizi  Sub-County

·      Inspections were also carried out in the Mpanga gorge on both sides of Kanara and Ntara Sub-Counties where massive tree cutting and charcoal burning were discovered

·     Two people were arrested and taken to court

·     15 Environment Compliance Inspection reports for private schools were conducted, reports prepared and submitted to Ministry of Education & Sports for consideration

Carrying out review for EIA and Environmental Audits

No. of EIA reports reviewed

No specific target

3

·     1 EIA report for proposed construction of Tweheyo Petro Station in Kamwenge Town Council was received, reviewed and comments sub mitted to NEMA

·     2 Environment Audit reports for Mpanga Hydro Power station and Dura Quarry plant were received, reviewed and comments submitted to NEMA for approval.

Establishment Development of district environment action plan [DEAP]

Action plan developed

1

-

·     No funds released to develop DEAP

Screening of water projects to identify potential negative impacts and also come up with appropriate mitigation measures

No. of water sources screened

8

8

·     Screening was done for; Rukoko GFS, Kanara Mini Piped water system, Nyabbani Mini Piped water system, Kacwampale Eco- san toilet, Kaburaisokye Deep well, Kengoma III deep well, Rwensikiza deep well, Ntuntu deep well and Kashenyi deep well

Certification of works

No. of certificates issued

4

2 certificates were issued

·     Two (2) roads contracted by UNRA were inspected to establish if mitigation measures had been met. The roads are;

1. Kahunge-Bisozi-Rwamwanja - 34Km.

·      5 borrow pits were opened

·      2 of them at Km 24- Bisozi and at Km 34 were not restored

Action taken: The contractor was    asked to do backfilling in the two pits and this was done

2. Rwenjaza-Kabujogera-Ibanda - 42Km

·      Three borrow pits were opened

·      All of them were not restored

·      However, the contractor provided evidence to the effect that the owners of the land where the borrow pits are located did not want the pits to be covered

·      This was  on the premise that they intended to construct buildings thereon

 Enforcing environmental standards

No. of actions

Situational

Situational

·     Gregory Tushabe who was constructing a petrol station along Kamwenge-Fort Portal road without authorization was stopped

Staff deposition as at end of June 2017

During the FY 2016/2017, the staffing position of the Department of Natural Resources stood as follows;

Position

No. Appr

No. filled

Vacant position

Salary scale

Name of the Position Holder

Status

Dist. Nat. Res. Officer

1

1

0

U1E SC

William .W. Kasango

Confirmed

Sen. Land Management Officer

1

1

0

U3 SC

Byamugisha Ferdinand

Forestry Officer

1

1

0

U4 SC

Ahimbisibwe Dariton

Physical planner

1

1

0

U4 SC

Kasoma Christopher

New staff

Tourism Officer

1

1

0

U4 SC

Namata Resty

New staff

Cartographer

1

1

0

U5 SC

Kiiza Daniel

Confirmed

Senior Environment Officer

1

0

0

U3 SC

Anthony Kalyegira

New staff

Staff Surveyor

1

1

0

U4 SC

Anthony Kukundakwe

New staff

Assistant Records Officer

1

1

0

U5 L

Ampaire Allen

Confirmed

Forestry Ranger

2

1

1

U7 U

Mugabirwe Novenci

Office Typist

1

1

1

U7U

Vacant

N/A

Office attendant

1

1

1

U8U

Robert  Mugabe

New staff

 

 Overview of Performance 2015/2016 and 1st Quarter 2016/17

1.   Land Management unit;

Consideration of land applications

During the period under consideration, the following have been done order the Land Management Unit;

·         343 land applications were received and considered by the District Land Board. Out of these, 303 were duly approved and all of them granted freehold. On the other hand 40 applications are still pending approval due to various issues noted by the DLB.

·         22 building plans were recommended for approval and out of these 9, were from Kamwenge Town Council while 3 were from Kicheche, 4 from Kahunge Town Council, 3 from Nkoma and 2 Ntara Sub-Counties,

·         4 land and boundary conflicts/disputes were solved without the option of going to court. 1 dispute was settled in Kamwenge Town Council-Rwemirama ward, 2 disputes solved in Bisozi- Nkoma Sub-County and 1 disputed settled in Buguta village,

·         15 sites visits were made.

·         2 certificates of titles for Kahunge and Kicheche sub counties were acquired. The process for acquiring the rest is ongoing. The delay was caused the newly introduced digitisation of the land record at the Department of Survesy and Mapping, Entebbe.

Revenue collection:

A total of UGX 2,100,000 was collected by 2015/16 FY and 1st quarter 2016/17 FY and was duly banked on the district general fund account at Finance Trust- Kamwenge branch.

2.   Forestry

Under the forestry sector, the following activities were carried out;

Forestry extension

·         5 farmers were visited in Nkoma Sub-County,

·         1 farmer was visited in Kitwe village in Busiriba Sub-County,

·         3 farmers were visited in Biguli Sub-County,

·         3 farmers visited in Mahyoro Sub-County,

·         3 farmers visited Kamwenge Sub-County,

·         2 farmers visited in Bihanga Sub-County.

 

Observations

·         Most plantations were poorly maintained

·         Some eucalyptus trees had been destroyed by termites

Advice given

·         Farmers whose tree crops had been attacked by termites were advised to treat the anthills with the recommended pesticides such as; Oscoris, Diozone and Rocket.

·         For poorly managed plantations, farmers were advised to carry out silivicultural practices including; thinning, pruning, weeding, line slashing etc

Revenue collection

The forestry sector continues to collect revenue from forest fees. In total UGX 1,180,000 was collected. The revenue was very low due to lack of transport and facilitation to enable the officers to move to the field to collect forest fees.

Recommendations

·         There is urgent need to facilitate forestry staff while collecting revenue,

·         There is need to enhance surveillance,

·         Because of inadequacies in man power, there is need to fill the vacant posts in the forestry sector.

 

3.   ENVIRONMENT

A total of UGX 7,200,000 PAF grant was received during FY 2015/16 and 2,700 for Q1 of 2016/17 and was used to carry out wetland activities that included;

Inspection of wetlands

·         Lyamugonera in Kahunge Sub County,

·         Kikoyo in Buhanda Sub County

 

Observations

·         Degradation continues to be a major challenge in wetland management,

·         Those responsible for the degradation are majorly farmers who open land for agricultural production.

Demarcation of buffer zones

·         The degraders in the affected wetlands were met and they promised to stop their illegal activities,

·         Demarcation of Rushango wetland was done; a total of 5Km and planted with 875 provided by Operation Wealth Creation (OWC)

·         The department is in the process of demarcating off buffer zones starting with the following wetlands;

 

 

 

 

Wetland                               Location

Kikoyo                                  Buhanda

Kengoma                               Kabambiro          

Lyamugonera                         Kahunge

Rwendongo                           Kahunge

Nyakahama                            Kamwenge/Kahunge

This intervention will serve and/or benefit the neighbouring communities basically in two ways;

·         Derive nutritional benefit as a result of consumption of mango fruits,

·         Derive and improve income from result of sale of mangoes.

(a)                                                                                                                                                         Awareness creation

Together with support from JESE, one meeting was carried out in Karambi and Nyanzi villages in Nyakahama parish, Kahunge Sub County to sensitize communities with the aim of achieving sustainable management of Karambi wetland and protection of R.Mpanga banks.

(b)                                                                                                                                                         Review of EIA and Audit Reports

·         Environment Audit report for Mpanga hydro power station was received, reviewed and comments submitted to NEMA for consideration.

 

·         EIA for the proposed establishment of E. Grandis forest plantation at Kyakarafa was received, reviewed and comments submitted to NEMA for consideration

·         Environmental Compliance inspection for Bishop Balya Girls School, Kamwenge was made and the report submitted to Ministry of Education and Sports

·         Environmental Compliance inspection for Kitagwenda Parents Primary school was made and the report submitted to Ministry of Education and Sports

 

4.   Administrative office

·         Salaries of all staff in the Department of Natural resources were paid,

·         Support supervision of staff was provided,

·         All staff were appraised in July 2016,

·         Mentoring was done for all staff,

·         In-house staff training was carried out

·         10 proposals for funding were generated and submitted to QENP under revenue sharing arrangements.

Constraints/Challenges to Service Delivery

(a)               Office based

·         Continued inadequate funding for the department has been the biggest ever since,

·         Staff living for other opportunities elsewhere and not replacing them also hinders performance of the sector,

·         Lack of transport means which hinders mobility of staff thus making retarding performance in the department.

(b)                                                                                                                                                         Field based

·         Wetlands degradation,

·         Bush fires by farmers,

·         Political interference by political leaders at lower local levels,

·         Charcoal burning,

·         River banks degradation.

 

Efforts to so far taken to address the above challenges

·         Submissions made to fill the vacant positions and the process is on-going;

·         Field sensitization and awareness being done,

·         The department is in the process of demarcating off buffer in selected wetlands,

·         Demarcation of the hot spots of R.Mpanga is being done for purposes of both stabilizing the gorge but also protect endangered and endemic species living in the gorge such as the Encephalortus Whitelokii (Cycads),

·         Enforcement of the enacted national laws and byelaws.

Recommendations

·         There is urgent need to provide funds to carry out sector activities according to the work plan,

·         In a view of the increased desire by farmers to take on tree farming as a business, it is recommended that tree nursery beds should be established in sub counties

Planned interventions for 2017/2018

·         Awareness creation on importance of acquiring certificates of titles and also assisting them to acquire these certificates,

·         Monitor and supervise progress of implementation of tree planting activities by DFO and FR,

·         Establish 2 nurseries to provide planting materials,

·         Awareness creation on Environment issues,

·         Carry out environmental inspections within the district,

·         Awareness creation on land tenure systems and procedures required for one to secure his/her parcel of land,

·         Revenue collection from both land related fees as well as forestry fees.

Resource envelope for FY 2017/2018(indicative planning figures)

Sector

Amount expected

Source

Land management

10,000,000

Local Revenue

Environment

10,800,000

MoWE – PAF CG for wetlands

Forestry

8,000,000

Local Revenue

Administration

129, 800,000

UCG for salaries

Administration

35, 000,000

Local Revenue and UCG

 

Conclusion

·         There is an ambitious target of attaining middle income status by 2020, yet majority of Ugandans are expected to get rich from agriculture 

·         This may not be achieved

Reason

·         Climate change is taking serious toll on the production potential of the nation

·         Whatever is planted, gets scorched by prolonged drought and emergence of pests and diseases

·         This quite often results into crop failure

·         Ultimately productivity is grossly affected

Therefore, even if we promote growing of crops without putting due attention on how to mitigate and/or adapt to effects of climate change, then there is no way we can attain the much-cherished middle-income status.

 

Remedy

1.   There is urgent need to set aside funds to kick-start efforts to address climate change starting with UGX 10,000,000.

2.   Collaborative actions will be undertaken together with the Production department to spearhead workable interventions such as

·         Promotion of small-scale irrigation including drip irrigation

·         Piloting establishment of manageable valley dams to provide water for production

 

 

W.W.Kasango

Head, Department of Natural Resources