KAGADI – The Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, has instructed the relevant authorities to halt all illegal activities in Bugoma Forest while the government finalizes its management arrangements.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Prime Minister announced this on Friday, April 1st, 2026, as she delivered condolence messages from President Museveni to the families who lost their loved ones in a recent river accident in Kagadi district.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, April 28th, 2026, when a wooden canoe loaded with people and bags of charcoal, returning to Pacwa Town Council from Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, capsized on River Nkusi.
Speaking to the people at the incident scene on River Nkusi in Kyaleni Cell, Nabbanja stated that the government is finalizing paperwork to convert Bugoma Central Forest Reserve into a national park.
She confirmed that the process includes transferring the current forest management from the National Forestry Authority to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which will make it more useful to the surrounding communities and the country.
“We are finalizing the process of transferring management of the forest from the National Forestry Authority to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It will be converted into a national park,” Nabbanja said.
The Prime Minister further delivered Shs150 million from the President to the committee heading the search and recovery operations for the missing drowned victims, aimed at supporting the affected families with burial expenses.
She also distributed life jackets to local residents, urging all water users to always wear them, avoid using unsafe or poorly maintained boats, and never overload their vessels.
At the time of the incident, the wooden boat was reportedly carrying over 39 people, with around 30 feared dead. By Friday evening, eight bodies had been recovered in total, three on Thursday and five more on Friday, since the search began on Wednesday.
The Police Marine Unit continues to work hard to find the remaining missing people, in an operation led by the Resident District Commissioner, Caroline Nanshemeza, and local politicians.
About the Author
