Project monitoring on the Kobusina Pocket Forest under the Bwindi Batwa Forest Experience (BBFE) was conducted from July 30, 2024, to August 2, 2024, under the direction of Mbarara University of Science & Technology. This involved the Batwa gathering wildings from the forest and raising them from the beds where they later transplanted them in the pocket forest so they could access food and medicinal resources in the community and lessen pressure on Bwindi National Park. Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko, the team leader of Sub-Project 2, facilitated this with his team.
Stakeholders from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Nkulingo Cultural Center, International Tree Foundation (ITF) in the UK, led by Mr. Wycliffe Madika, and local government representatives of the town council, led by Ms. Ketra.
Importance:
In order to lessen strain on Bwindi International Park by eliminating illicit resource gathering, Rubuguri T/C and MUST IUC-UCOBS signed a memorandum of understanding that granted the Batwa 10 acres of land for the planting of trees, herbs, and shrubs.
Poaching, firewood, and the illicit harvesting of medicinal resources were among the resources harvested. These activities served as a buffer for Bwindi National Park, as the Batwa people now have access to resources from Kobutsina Pocket Forest through their Community Based Organization (CBO), the Bwindi Batwa Community Development Association (BBCDA).
To sum up, the Uganda Wildlife Authority reports that since 2020, there have been no arrests of Batwa for illicit resource harvesting, indicating a meaningful outcome.
