Cultural conservatism
Despite the threat of encroachment on forests in Bunyoro, some people are putting up a fight. An example is the Kwonga Clan. Which is conserving a forest sitting on part of their land at Kitoole Village.
The forest is a habitat for a variety of fauna and flora, with close resemblance to those found in Bugoma reserve since it is located nearby.
The species of trees in the forest include Prunus Africana, which is used to treat prostate cancer. Others are timber tree species, including mahogany and figs that provide food to birds and primates.it is also home to the black and white colobus monkeys, red tail monkey, antelopes, duikers, reptiles such as python and several species of birds and insects.
Bugoma central forest is central to Bunyoro kingdom and its people and culture, a vision group team discovered recently during a fact-finding mission, after part of the forest was leased to sugarcane growing.
Not only is the forest part of the kingdom and its people but has rare tree species too. Over the years the Banyoro have shown strong reverence to nature either a tradition of planting or preserving forest.
According to Apollo Rwamparo, the second deputy prime minister and minister of tourism in Bunyoro Kingdom, Bugoma and Budongo are cultural forest which were planted by Bunyoro Kings, including the powerful Omukama Kabalega.
However, Hoima sugar limited which is seeking to cultivate sugarcane in part of Bugoma in Kikuube district, is disregarding such cultural importance.
