Local leaders in Kigezi Sub-region have raised concern over the shrinking bamboo cover in Echuya Forest Reserve and called for urgent intervention to protect the ecosystem.
The reserve lies on the boundary of Kisoro and Rubanda districts. For decades, it has been widely known as a bamboo forest.
Echuya Forest Reserve covers about 3,403 hectares. Of this, 2,701 hectares are in Rubanda District, while the remaining area lies in Kisoro District.
The forest is home to about 10 species of monkeys and baboons. It also hosts more than 300 bird species, including the highly endangered Grauer’s Rush Warbler.
The reserve is also important for tourism. Bird-watching tourists often stop there while travelling to Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for gorilla tracking.
Leaders Warn of Wildlife and Water Risks
Local leaders say many areas that previously had bamboo have now been taken over by other tree species.
Monkeys and baboons that were once commonly seen climbing bamboo near the Kabale-Kisoro highway are now rarely spotted.
Mr Joseph Nizeye Wa-Senkoko, the LC3 chairperson of Kanaba Sub-county in Kisoro, said the government should consider replanting bamboo in the reserve.
Mr Nizeye, who is also a member of the Echuya Collaborative Forest Management Committee, said bamboo plays a major role in conserving water that feeds streams flowing into Lake Bunyonyi.
“Otherwise, wild animals like monkeys and baboons which feed on bamboo shoots and serve as tourist attractions may disappear,” Mr Nizeye said.
He warned that continued bamboo loss could also affect water availability for nearby communities and wildlife.
“Bamboo has been instrumental in holding the natural water that serves the community and the wildlife living in the area,” he said.
CFM Leaders Blame Illegal Harvesting
Mr Haruna Mutabazi, the vice chairperson of the Collaborative Forest Management committee in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda, blamed the decline on the National Forestry Authority.
He accused NFA of failing to stop illegal bamboo harvesting by investors setting up tourism camps.
“NFA has disregarded the role of CFM committee members to an extent that they do not invite us for Echuya forest management meetings.
However, CFM committees and Nature Uganda played a great role in saving Echuya forest from selfish individuals who wanted to introduce South African Eucalyptus tree species while others wanted to use the land as Irish potato gardens. The central government should also put in place stringent measures to stop illegal bamboo tree harvesting,” he said.
NFA Says Bamboo Loss Is Linked to Natural Succession
The National Forestry Authority denied wrongdoing.
NFA Executive Director Stuart Maniraguha said about 30 percent of bamboo in Echuya has been lost.
He explained that bamboo is a grass and cannot grow well under a closed forest canopy. When other trees cover it, he said, bamboo dries up.
“Nature is trying to redefine itself, which means that our strict protection of that forest could be the possible cause of the bamboo loss/disappearance. For instance, if you allow people to harvest bamboo, you create gaps for light which favours bamboo growth. That is why, in 2021/2022 we started sustainable bamboo harvesting and management. We also zoned out areas that were purely under bamboo and started pruning and thinning activities. In this, we cut out the dry bamboo to allow the new shoots to spring up,” he said.
Mr Maniraguha said the forest is undergoing natural colonisation by indigenous species such as Macaranga. He described the process as succession.
He said NFA is now focusing on areas that still have pure bamboo, targeting 500 hectares.
“In 2023/2024, we restored about 80 hectares of bamboo in Bufundi Sub-county in Rubanda District. However, in Muko Sub-county in Rubanda and Kanaba Sub-county in Kisoro District, we did liberation tending,” Mr Maniraguha said.
The concerns from Kigezi leaders now put renewed attention on the future of Echuya Forest Reserve, its wildlife, water sources and tourism value.
