Mabira Forest Giveaway: A Path to Degenerative Development

The environmental challenges facing Uganda and the East African region are real. Unplanned natural resource exploitation by corrupt governments, criminal networks, bad governance, and changing rainfall patterns have negatively impacted the lives of millions of Africans.

A nascent movement of environmentalists is now making their voices heard to reclaim their land, resources, and future. Now, author Tony Akaki adds his voice and perspective in addressing the unfolding environmental disaster by focusing on the Mabira Forest giveaway-a plan proposed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to give nearly one-quarter of the Mabira Forest to the Sugar Corporation of Uganda (SCOUL)- owned by the Mehta Group-to facilitate the growth of more sugarcane.

Akaki raises all the issues regarding the impact on the environment, the potential to affect ecotourism, medical research on indigenous flora and fauna, the loss of rain supplying Lake Victoria, and the potential for environmental disaster with deforestation. He provides a powerful argument for saving the environment and fighting to preserve Uganda's forests and natural resources.

Tony Akaki is an environmentalist and supporter of the Save Mabira crusade. He is also one of the signatories of the Forests Now Declaration that advocates the establishment of new market-based mechanisms to protect the ecosystem services that forests provide. He earned a diploma in international environmental law and currently lives in Uganda. Princess Jane Mpologoma is a member of the Buganda royal family and an ordained missionary of the Manmin Church (Korea) and is the founder of the Manmin Church branch (London) where she serves as the Pastor. She has a keen interest in social justice and welfare of vulnerable members of our societies and through the Princess Jane Mpologoma Foundation she intends to extend her ministry to all parts of Uganda.