Today I woke up feeling very happy within me and found myself singing hymns of praise to the Almighty God. It is one of those days when you want to part yourself on the back for a job well done and I believe done with a distinction. When I served on the NFA Board, 2009 - 2012, I did so with all the passion to restore the integrity of our environment and forestry cover cover. I accomplished all my assignments and to the chagrin of the Uganda police and other political figures, I made sure that I never missed any meetings. I also kept a personal record of all the proceedings of the Board, as a security against any forces that could tried to tarnish the image of the Board. So when as a Board and management we were dragged to the police (Special investigation unit in Naguru) and accused of selling of Namanve forest, which unfortunately is history, I matched in with my heavy books of all the proceedings. When the police said they did not trust the minutes of the Board, that they could have been doctored, I pulled out my incorruptible hand written manuscripts. That was my savior for the day and for the rest of the Board members because they just could not get us. Later A number of us appeared in the anti-corruption court as a State witnesses against colleagues that had allegedly fallen for the political ploy of signing documents giving away Namanve without Board approval. Publicly the names of rest of the Board members that were tarnished in the media by the baseless allegations were never cleared. My celebration today is a new Board for NFA is going to finally be inaugurated after so many years of having an incomplete and of recent no Board at all. I have been invited for the inauguration and definitely I will honor the invitation. I will walk into the NFA headquarters with my head raised high because I served with integrity and I have no shame to my name. I pray that the new Board does not bow to the political pressures and manipulation and may the new Board members have the will and stamina to restore the much needed forestry cover. To the staff of NFA, those guys and ladies are national heroes. They serve under very strenuous and harmful conditions, many risking their lives to encroaches and politicians masquerading as defenders of forests and yet they are poachers. We owe the little forest cover to the NFA staff that have stood their ground to save their profession and forests they so much treasure. I loved working with you all. Please keep our forests safe and plant more. It is tough but keep going.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 07:49:44 +0000
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