President Museveni Orders Immediate Halt to Bugoma Forest Destruction, Directs Upgrade to National Park
KAMPALA – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a firm directive to stop the degradation, deforestation, and encroachment of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, ordering the eviction of all encroachers without compensation and the upgrade of the reserve to a National Park.
In a letter dated February 23, 2026, addressed to Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, President Museveni noted that he had received previous correspondence from Hon. Tom R. Butime regarding the ongoing destruction of the forest. The President expressed alarm over reports implicating Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel in charcoal burning within the reserve.
“All this must stop forthwith,” Museveni wrote. “I have also been informed that UPDF is involved in charcoal burning in the forest.”
To address the crisis, the President issued four key directives:
First, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is ordered to investigate the alleged involvement of UPDF personnel in forest destruction. Second, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is to take over the role of protecting the forest. Third, all encroachers must be evicted without exception.
Museveni dismissed any possibility of compensation for evictees, arguing that the encroachment is recent and deliberate. He recalled flying over Bugoma Forest shortly after the bush war, noting there was no human settlement at the time, similar to Zoka Forest.
“They must go and no talk of compensation. That would tantamount to impunity,” the President emphasized.
Fourth, Museveni directed that Bugoma be upgraded to a National Park to accord it maximum protection, citing its crucial role in the ecosystem as a catchment area for several rivers and for carbon dioxide absorption.
Copies of the directive were sent to the Vice President, the Minister of Water and Environment, the Chief of Defence Forces, and the Attorney General.
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