Ugandans are well accustomed with ‘ghosts’ infestation in this country.  These ‘ghosts’ seem to crop up in environs where there is any shadow of opportunity to make big pecuniary grab.
‘ghosts’ have strategically attacked some of the leading institutions including security agencies and education. The ‘ghosts’ have been plucky and attempted to run down the education system with ‘ghost teachers’ and ‘ghost’ pupils or students. The Ivory Tower has not been spared either and the creatures could not even allow an enclosure of the University with a fence.  It is not even uncommon to hear demons and ‘ghosts’ being chased out of the ‘houses of God’ in Kampala and elsewhere!  Recently there have emerged ‘ghost’ land, ‘ghost’ institution and ‘ghost’ infestations which rage on in this Pearl of Africa!

In biology there is a concept of endemism. Endemism describes species that are native to a particular geographic area, continent or a nation. Going by this definition, then these ‘ghosts’ might be endemic to Uganda. However endemism is a historical fact and it is a product of the history of an area, its subsequent evolutional isolation, and the present day environment.  The number of endemic species is generally considered a clue to the length of time that the area has been isolated. If this principle holds true, then could it mean that Uganda is such an isolated country that we have such high state of endemism of ‘ghosts’?

The scenarios described above had for long spared the environment and natural resources sector which is the backbone for Uganda economic development through agriculture, tourism and fisheries.   There were indeed few opportunities for big financial catches in this sector and where there were fortunes, it was always in long term such as tree growing.  ‘ghosts’ discount the future so much that they do not seem to like investing in future prospects.  However ‘ghosts’ may sometimes use long-term ploys to defraud unsuspecting victims.

So whereas the ‘ghosts’ have been roaming allover the country wrecking havoc in many institutions, the natural resources base had been spared or rather the ‘ghosts’ here were too ghostly to be revealed. If  the ‘ghosts’ attack in this sector is sustained, it will be catastrophic and the loss shall be bequeathed to our children.
However there are some signs that these ‘endemic ghost species’ have started looking at natural resources as another sector to invade. This could finally break the nation’s survival. Be ware of this impending invasion because it will come with tragic consequences.  Various attempts have already been made in wetlands, forests and wildlife sectors. These ‘ghosts’ always disguise and sometimes come with grandee ideas but which are just fatal trickery. One such trickery goes “let us cut down the natural forests for palm oil and sugar cane plantations and when we are developed, we shall plant the forest again”. The other would be “let us construct golf courses in national parks and this will be a massive attraction to tourists to the parks and Uganda as whole”. 

The Mabira Forest saga is such other good example that demonstrates how natural resources sector is developing high affinity to ‘ghosts’.  No wonder in 2007 witchdoctors were involved in the degazzettement campaign and camped at the forest to dispel the invasion!  This could have been a big un-praised contribution in the temporarily settling of the Mabira dust!

Let me show how the invasion of Mabira Forest would result into quick and big money. An economic evaluation of Mabira Forest indicates that the value of timber growing stock (only trees with timber value) in the proposed area for planting sugarcane was estimated at US$35.2 million and the present net value of land for the 7,186 ha required is estimated at $21 million according to this report. This may be a huge underestimate, comparing with the recent land evaluation of NSSF at Ush.24m per ha in Ntemangaro. Nonetheless, the total quick cash from this Mabira venture before a single plant of sugarcane is planted is US$46.2 million that is close to Ush.120 billion. This is the kind of money that will make all ‘ghosts’ in the country swing into action.

Therefore, I strongly believe there is a ghost, probably ‘ghosts’ in Mabira Forest Reserve.
As a country we need to make good analysis of whether these ‘ghosts’ are actually endemic species. If there are not, then they will be classified as ‘invasive species’ and the only way to deal with invasive species is to develop a control mechanism that requires massive and everyone’s participation.

Achilles Byaruhanga,
NatureUganda