zula mabira forest-uganda
Mabira
Central Forest Reserve is located on the main Kampala – Jinja Highway in Mukono
District. It is 54 km from the City Centre of Kampala and 26 km from Jinja
Town. The Eco – Tourism Site is about half a kilometer from the road head along
a short dirt road off the Najjembe trading center. The Forest is therefore
accessible by all vehicles throughout the year.
By
the time of the establishment of the Uganda Protectorate in 1894, the Mabira
forest was already an isolated fragment of the equatorial rain forest believed
to have once extended virtually uninterrupted across central Africa. In 1906,
the forest was leased to the East Africa and Uganda Exploration Syndicate whose
subsidiary, the Mabira Forest (Uganda) Rubber Co. Ltd., managed the property.
The company initially anticipated the annual collection of more than 225,000 kg
(500,000 lbs.) of wild rubber from the native species Funtumia elastica. This
proved unfeasible and the company later resorted to the establishment of
several plantations of primarily coffee and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). In
1932, much of what had formerly been part of the Company's concession was
officially gazetted as a Forest Reserve.
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During
the period Idi Amin's reign (1971 - 1979) there was a significant breakdown in
law and order, during which time Mabira Forest - as with most of Uganda's
natural parks and wildlife reserves - suffered tremendously from logging,
poaching and encroachment by poor farmers. This situation improved little up
until the end of the Civil War in 1985. Starting in 1986, conservation and
reforestation efforts began in earnest, culminating with the expulsion of all
those small farmers occupying land within the forest in 1988.
In
the intervening years, various governmental organizations, foreign aid
agencies, international NGO's and various community-based organizations have
worked to restore the forest while at the same time developing ecotourism
opportunities for the advancement and support of the surroundings communities.
In 2006, and then again in 2011, these efforts came under threat when the
Ugandan government proposed de-gazetting as much as one third of the forest for
the expansion of the neighboring sugar plantations operated by the Sugar
Corporation of Uganda Ltd (SCOUL), a public-private joint venture partnership
with the Mehta Gro Area coverage:Mabira Central Forest Reserve is one of
Uganda’s largest surviving Natural Forests covering an area of 306 sq km. Attractions:Mabira
has Natural Habitat of 312 species of trees, home of 315 species of Birds, 218
Butterfly Species, 97 Moth Species, 23 Small Mammal Species,
They
include Forest Walks with over 68 km of well-developed trail length, Mountain
Biking, Bird Watching, Environmental Education and Research, Camping and
Picnics, Primate Watching, Butterfly Identification and general Forest
Exploration.
ACCOMMODATION
Mabira
boosts of 3 Bandas which can accommodate a maximum of 10 Guests at the Eco –
Tourism Site near Najjembe Trading Centre. The Bandas are self – catering
although some light meals can be prepared for you by the House keeper. There is also a Camping Ground near the Site
for do-it-yourself caravans at a modest fee.
Mabira Forest Lodge, a modern eco – friendly facility by the Alam Group
of Companies is nearing completion.
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