A total of 112 farmers in Ntungamo and Itojo sub-counties of Ntungamo District are counting losses after a fire destroyed several crops, trees and other projects in the Butaare- Ruhanga hills on.
Farmers have been using Butaare-Ruhanga hills that stretch for about two square kilometres for both agriculture and settlement. Area residents suspect that it could have been work of an arsonist. The Ntungamo sub-county Councillor, Mr Naboth Mpirirwe, said some individuals, especially herdsmen, burn hills during the dry spell on claims that it would help improve the pastures once the rainy season sets in.
Supporting the affected farmers
“We have tried to sensitise people that they abandon the practice of burning the pastures. We shall engage the police to hunt suspect and make sure they serve as examples. You can’t destroy people’s investments like that.” Mr Mpirirwe said.
Mr Enock Mwesigye, one of the affected farmers, revealed that he lost 21 acres of crops and 140 beehives in the fire.
“I have lost almost all my commercial crops. I started growing these crops about eight years ago after returning from training in Israel, under a project funded by the First Lady. We were taught how to grow crops on hills. I put in all the money I had but now I don’t know where to start from,” said Mr Enock Mwesigye.
The Ntungamo natural resources officer, Ms Dinah Tumwebaze, said they were working on supporting the affected farmers whom she said had been aiding conservation of the hills.
