'Campaigners lose court case to stop Ugandan forest clearance', 13 May 2021

Conservationists in Uganda have condemned as “shallow and absurd” a court ruling that authorised the government to allow swathes of a tropical forest to be cleared for a sugar-cane plantation. Three environmental groups had taken the government to court over a decision to allow Hoima Sugar Ltd to build on 5,500 hectares (13,500 acres) in the Bugoma Forest Reserve. Alongside sugar, the firm plans to build schools, a market and a hospital, as well as develop an ecotourism centre... Last week, Justice Musa Ssekaana, head of the high court civil division, threw out the case. He said it was based on unsubstantiated allegations to win public sympathy and mislead the court... Dickens Kamugisha, chief executive of AFIEGO, said: “The whole ruling is very shallow and absurd. The judge completely failed to appreciate the legal questions relating to the issues to be determined.”... The reserve, 155 miles (250km) north-west of the capital, Kampala, covers more than 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres). It is the largest remaining block of natural tropical forest along the Albertine rift valley and was due to be designated a national park. Campaigners said the reserve plays an enormous role in preserving wildlife migration corridors. They plan to appeal against the decision...