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The Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (Scoul) has spared part of its land as a nine-hole golf course and wants to expand into the Mabira forest reserve, which is a sanctuary for rare species of birds.
"It is ridiculous that they want to keep their golf course intact and destroy the forest," said a senior forestry official, adding that Mabira is widely seen as a heritage.
Mabira harbours a third of the country's bird species, including a rare bird species, Nahan's Francolin, that is only found in Bugoma and Budongo forests in western Uganda.
Conservationists insist that Mabira is the only remaining large natural forest on the northern shores of Lake Victoria after encroachers destroyed South Busoga forest. According to NatureUganda, Mabira Forest reserve is the largest block of moist semi-deciduous forest remaining in the central region of Uganda.
The reserve is considered to be a secondary forest, in which the distinct vegetation types are sub-climax communities, heavily influenced by humans for prolonged periods of time.
Two hundred and two tree species have been recorded, including one (Diphasia angolensis) not known elsewhere in Uganda. Five other tree species growing in this reserve are listed as endangered.
A Scoul insider said the golf course, estimated to occupy 200 acres, is in the vicinity of the estate on one of the edges of the plantation, a kilometre away from the sugar factory. "They should cultivate sugarcane on their own golf course since they would not have to spend too many resources to turn it into a plantation," said the forestry official.
Scoul wants 7,100 hectres of Mabira forest reserve to plant sugarcane.
However, sources said with efficiency Scoul has the potential of increasing the productivity of its 11,000-acre land under their estate.
According to a Food and Agriculture Organisation report, sugar companies in Uganda produce 10 times less per unit area unit than their counterparts in Malawi.
Two weeks ago, Buganda Kingdom made an offer to avail 15,000 hectares of land to SCOUL to save Mabira from being cut down for cultivation of sugarcane.
This was contained in a statement from Dan Muliika, Buganda's Prime Minister, which was presented at a public debate at the Uganda Museum under the theme, "Mabira forest or sugarcane reserve?"
Sam Kisawuzi, who is Muliika's Permanent Secretary, presented the statement at the well-attended debate, which attracted conservationists, Makerere University lecturers and students.
Scoul claims that part of the forest is heavily encroached upon and that much of the tree cover of the area they want to take over is composed of inferior trees, namely paper mulberry trees.
However, a team of top experts in the environment ministry last weekend told Jessica Eriyo, the Environment State Minister, that the paper mulberry provides cover to the regenerating native tree species.
Stephen Nsita of the National Forestry Authority said the role of Mabira should be seen beyond trees and timber because the sheltered part of Mabira also acts as a catchment area for lakes Kyoga and Victoria and also rivers, including the Nile, Musamya and Sezibwa.
"Many people's livelihoods depend on this forest, which is being put to multiple uses, including harvesting of mature trees in some parts, extraction of firewood, medicine, honey by local people and promotion of eco-tourism," he said.