Getting Cozy with Mabira Forest

I love travelling but that’s where it ends. So, I am a poor tourist? Well, a yes, moderate and a no could all pass.

Walking the 5km BLUE TRAIL inside Mabira Forest

Before the Kasubi Tombs went up in flames, I was staying approximately 500ms away and I’d never visited the site.

Mabira forest has not once but twice come to the very edge of national debate. In 2007, three people died when Mehta Sugar factory hoped to annex part of the forest. Fast-forward 2010, the same threat is back again.

Fortunately for now, no one has died or been injured but tempers are boiling as fast as the current Sugar price increases.

As the debate rages on, I took myself to Mabira Eco-tourism Centre to have a personal feel of this trouble forest.

Located 56km East of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, it would take you about 60 minutes with minimum traffic and up to 2 hours with traffic.

At the centre, you are given two options: One is the walking trail and the other the cycling trail. The Walking trail costs a Ugandan 2000/= without a guide and 5000/= with one. I chose the former.

As you venture into the tropical forest, there are four trails. Red trail-(LONG: 4-5hrs)-33km, Yellow Trail- (MEDIUM: 2-3hrs)-12kms, Blue Trail-(Easy: 1hr)-5km, White Trail- (Griffins Falls)

I took the BLUE TRAIL and the result is what you can see.

A sugar cane plant grows in Lugamango, bordering Mabira Forest. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

SCOUL sugar cane plantation borders Mabira Forest at Lugamango. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

A SCOUL out grower transports his canes on a bicycle in Lugamango near Mabira Forest. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

Entrance to the Mabira Eco-tourism Centre. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

Like any race, there is a starting and ending point. Here is where it all started. The quest to mingle with Mabira Forest. . President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

Along the trail are trees marked with the different colours as guide. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

Walking the 5km BLUE TRAIL inside Mabira Forest. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

Forest cover is composed of both young and old. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

I was rained on three times in the one hour trail of Mabira forest. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation

 

The Mabira Forest trails became water logged which made walking the trails somewhat challenging. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

About 25 minutes into the trail, I came across the ‘Banda Camp site’. It’s about 1 hectare camp space capable of accommodating 50 people with their tents. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

About 25 minutes into the trail, I came across the ‘Banda Camp site’. It’s about 1 hectare camp space capable of accommodating 50 people with their tents. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

About 25 minutes into the trail, I came across the ‘Banda Camp site’. It’s about 1 hectare camp space capable of accommodating 50 people with their tents. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

Mabira forest is rich in terms of floral species. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

I found an intersection where the Blue and Red trails met. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

There are dotted areas where trees are cut down for both firewood and Charcoal burning. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

One among many tree trunks I met in Mabira Forest while trailing the Blue route. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

20

.A fuel tank is seen along the Kampala-Jinja Highway inside Mabira Forest. President Yoweri Museveni recently proposed that over 7,100 hectares of part of Mabira reserve forest be given to Methta group of companies for Sugar cane plantation.

 

Tags: Ecotourism, Inflation, Lugamango, Mabira Forest, Mabira RainForest, Mehta, Najjembe, President Museveni on Photos, SCOUL, Sugar, Sugar Crisis in Uganda, Sugar Inflation, Sugar Plantation, Uganda Sugar Crisis

• August 22, 2011
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