My attention is drawn to several wild and outrageous accusations in which my name has been drawn without substantiation in relation to NFA license for ecotourism in Arua Central Forest Reserve. In their outburst, the driver\"s of the narrative asserted that I fraudulently acquired a 49 year lease in Barifa and I\"m fraudulently involved in processing the lease for the same with Arua city authorities.
For the public\"s information, I\"ve no lease in Barifa. The license I have was lawfully acquired under the National Forest Tree Planting Act 2003 and through a transparent puplic procurement process as provided for in PPDA and cleared by Solicter General\"s office. Many might not have known about the adverts which I can\"t be blamed for. National Forest Authority in 2017 put in both print and online public call to potential tree planters and ecotourism developers to express interest in various proposed activities in different CFRs across the country (see advert). As a citizen with same rights to personal development, (protected by Chapter 4 of our Constitution), I applied. After a rigorous evaluation process, based on strength of my technical proposal and uniqueness of the ideas therein (incorporating moseums intended to feature West Nile\"s cultural artifacts, Olympic size swimming pool capable of hosting international tournaments, an international conference center, children\"s amusement park, wildlife education center, public recreational facility, innovation park etc.), my application stood out and emerged one of the best Arua CFR. After fulfilment of all offer conditions, I was given a two year probationary license within which to carry ESIA ( see offer letter, license and NEMA Certificate). That\"s how i became a licensee not leaseholder in this government CFR and not through fraud as alleged.
Through the proposed forest park, NFA seeks to preserve the ecological value of the forest and avail other opportunities to the communities sorrounding the CFRs. Ecotourism will not only offer job and market opportunities to locals. The project will put Arua Capital City in ranks of cities like Kigali, New York, Nairobi, Addis Ababa who are now reaping big from their well development forest parks and public spaces.
It will interest public to note that, ecotourism isn\"t the only activity NFA has licensed in the Barifa. There are private tree planters already planting under a license. Those you see grazing animals in the forest also do it under a license. Why have those not attracted the same outburst and accusations of fraud and lease of the land?
Some have alluded to inadequacy of consultations and faulted me for failure to degazate Barifa. What yardstick did they use to arrive at this conclusion? Are they aware consultation of key stakeholders was precondition for issuance of NEMA Certificate? There was was input from key stakeholders including Arua Municipal under whose jurisdiction the licensed area falls, Local leaders and communities around the CFR and District Forest Department. How do they think NEMA was able to clear this project without input from stakeholders? (see NEMA certificate). Next time let us not imagine consultation is said to only occur when you reach the loudest.
I\"m informed there are those who took offense with project implementation schedule; querying why i decided to commence works towards the end of probationary period. It\"s not true that we\"re starting now. We\"ve been there before planting trees as authorised by the NFA (land owner) and inccordance with planned land use case. As a law abiding citizen I couldn\"t start any activity without all necessary statutory permits envisaged under law. If the concerned do not know, the whole of Uganda is now a planning area. So we wanted all our activities executed in accordance with the law.
In pursuit of their usual tribal, anti development rhetoric and vandeta, they decided to merge I and Gen. Salim Saleh, President\"s brother in this. If anyone has issues involving Gen. Saleh, it should separately, legally and based on facts be addressed directly to him. We\"re two separate legal entities whose occupation permits can be cross-checked with the relevant authorities.
Therefore, after carefully examining the contents of the noise, I can only say it\"s hollow on facts, full unsubstantiated claims and intended to exhibit \"unfounded power,\" project tribal sentiment, incite violence and do blackmail to dent my candidature for Deputy Speaker.
Some might be pursuing this out of excitement or ignorance. As someone who has been there before, I\"m aware of the excitements that comes with being newly put in leadership positions undeservedly but I would advise those concerned to tread carefully on public matters and in pursuit of relevancy lest they misguide their people.
Many of you do not know the implication of your statements. For instance at a funeral in Orugbo parish, a Mayor elect, called on the people of Ayivu to prepare for war and he was prayed for as he prepares to lead his people into the war? On another occasion, in Aliba, a Mayor urged the Ayivu\"s to prepare to fight for their land. What if this is countered with an equivalent response by my people? If the dangers posed by such statements and actions are unknown, then these people may as well be preparing to touch what the President called the "anus of a leopard."
To all those who believe in me, transact with me and to whom I pay model role, these outbursts have no agenda beyond personal vandeta. The accusations are intended to cause an irreparable damage to my hard earned reputation. By copy of the letter, I\"m directing my lawyers to proceed with a legal pursuit.
I urge the public to ignore such outbursts which are not based on facts.Right thinking members of our society should always seek correct information from relevant government institutions to avoid being misled by opportunists whose misguidance could cost them colossally.
Finally, allow me clarify that licenses issued by entities like Uganda Wildlife Authority, National Forestry Authority, etc do not confer leases or title of ownership as being portrayed. NFA\"s mandate under the law doesn\"t extend to processing leases for people in Central Forest Reserves. The public should therefore know that no lease can be processed without an application, involvement of Area Land Committees, City or District Land Boards and Ministry of Lands. That\"s why I\"m calling on anyone with evidence sighting me in such a lease or fraudulent process in relation to Barifa to bring it forward.
As this is now a matter of grave security concern in which some leaders have threatened government officials with death, I\"m copying relevant authorities for commensurate action. Lastly, let me as advise all those involved in the propagation of these falsehoods to interest themseves with the Computer Misuse Act 2011. You risk putting yourself in unwarranted litigations.
I thank you.
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