Encroachment and eviction of local communities from Kagombe Central forest reserve, Kibaale District

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This study involved the assessment of encroachment and eviction of local communities from Kagombe Central Forest Reserve, Kibaale District. Factors that caused local communities to encroach, settle and over-exploit Kagombe forest reserve were assessed and the ways in which the forest was managed were examined as well as the consequences of the eviction. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed in SPSS and Excel to generate tables and graphs. Results show that inadequacy of land for farming (57.1%), coupled with the fertility of the land in the forest reserve (32.7%) and need to get land for settlement (16.3%) were the main factors that motivated the local people to encroach, settle and over-exploit Kagombe Forest Reserve. Ways on managing the conflict proposed from this study includes resettlement to other areas, holding conflict resolution meetings, and allocation of more time. Other methods include court intervention, compensation of damaged crops and removal of wildlife habitat. In addition, the consequences of the conflicts were both immediate and after sometime and those that occurred after some time included insufficient food (84.6%) , poverty increase (41.5%) , expenses due to injuries ( 36.9%) , homeless people ( 30.8%) , unwanted pregnancy ( 9.2%) and contraction of diseases (HIV) and hostility of the people (1.5%).Destruction of crops was also noted as an immediate effect . It is concluded that need for land for settlement could be addressed through resettlement of the encroachers. Achievement of this will be through proper planning of the eviction process to reduce on the impact of these consequences like death of people though more efforts should be put in prevention of people settling on the forest land in the first place before maximum degradation of the forest has been done. It is recommended that involvement of the local communities through their employment so that they become direct beneficiaries, which will motivate them to manage and conserve the reserve as belonging to them as well as proper planning to ensure resettlement of the encroachers, which will reduce pressure on the reserve. (914.6Kb)
Author
Asaba, Reacheal
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http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12281/4883
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