The community surrounding Abera Forest reserve located in Unyama Sub County, Gulu district, who have been farming in the forest for a long time are planning a peaceful demonstration over their destruction of their crops.
In July, the community were warned to only harvest whatever they had in the garden and not plant anything in the forest during the second season.
The community however asked for permission through their leaders to enable them plant crops only in the second season because they have survived in the forest all their lives and have nowhere to go.
They also requested for time to enable them search for alternative place for farming.
However, last week, workers of the forest reserve slashed plants belonging ot farmers including cassava, beans, maize and ground nuts among others which the community had already planted.
Onen Jimmy, a victim says his maize of one acre is no more as the workers continue digging holes to plant more trees in the forest.
Onen says the community has written to the Sub County demanding for compensation because they will die of hunger.
He says they are also demanding for adjustment of the boundary lines because the forest authorities have extended it into land belonging to the community.
Obol Justine Simple man, the LCV Chairperson of Gulu district advises the community to avoid demonstration but rather contact forest authorities together with their LC1 Chairpersons after documenting the crops that were destroyed.
He adds that later on the matter can then be forwarded to the Sub County leaders who will also forward the same to his office.
By Rebecca Ekwany
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