{{Short description|Forest in Uganda}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Zoka Forest | alt_name = East Moyo Wildlife Reserve | iucn_category = | image = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_size = | map = Uganda | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in Uganda | map_width = | relief = | location = Adjumani District, Northern Region, Uganda | nearest_city = Adjumani | coordinates = {{coords|03|01|03|N|31|39|21|E|region:UG|display=inline, title}} | area = {{convert|1259|ha|km2|abbr=on}} (Tropical Forest),{{convert|10000|ha|km2|abbr=on}} (Wildlife Reserve Area) | established = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = National Forestry Authority | url = }} '''Zoka Forest''' is a natural tropical rain forest in the Northern Region of Uganda. The forest is a component of the larger East Moyo Wildlife Reserve.<ref name="Deg">{{cite web | url=http://www.chimpreports.com/govt-to-degazette-zoka-forest-for-sugarcane-plantation | title=Govt to Degazette Zoka Forest for Sugarcane Plantation | access-date=11 November 2016 | date=7 October 2016 | first=Paul | last=Ampurire | publisher=Chimpreports.com | location=Kampala}}</ref>
==Location== The forest is in the southern part of Adjumani District,<ref>{{google maps | access-date=11 November 2016 | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Adjumani,+Uganda/@2.9809984,31.9164786,9.09z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x177203102fe32e19:0x52d797dacb9b5649!8m2!3d3.2548527!4d31.7195459 | title=Map Showing Adjumani District With Zoka Forest in the Extreme South, Close to the Border With Amuru District}}</ref> approximately {{convert|50|km|0}} south of Adjumani, the district capital.<ref>{{cite web | access-date=11 November 2016 | last=Globefeed.com | url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Adjumani%2C%20Northern%20Region%2C%20Uganda&toplace=Zoka%20Forest%2C%20East%20Moyo%2C%20Northern%20Region%2C%20Uganda%2C&dt1=ChIJtw10EBQOchcRL80yqYowvEM&dt2=ChIJpzI8jMn9cRcRKjrYyXiBFa0 | date=11 November 2016 | publisher=Globefeed.com | title=Distance between Adjumani, Northern Region, Uganda and Zoka Forest, East Moyo, Northern Region, Uganda}}</ref> The coordinates of the forest are 03°01'03.0"N, 31°39'21.0"E (Latitude:3.017500; Longitude:31.655830).<ref>{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/3%C2%B001'03.0%22N+31%C2%B039'21.0%22E/@2.7248088,31.2431519,8.93z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d3.0175!4d31.65583 | title=The Geographical Coordinates of Zoka Forest, Adjumani District, Northern Region, Uganda | access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref>
==Overview== Situated in the Itirikwa and Ukusijoni sub-counties in the southern part of Adjumani District, the Zoka Central Forest Reserve measures about {{convert|1259|ha|mi2}}. It is the only natural tropical rain forest and the only natural forest resource in Adjumani District.<ref name="Probe">{{cite web | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201610060114.html | title=Uganda: UPDF Forms Committee to Probe Plunder of Zoka Forest | access-date=11 November 2016 | date=6 October 2016 | location=Kampala |last=Julius Ocungi | first=and James Owich | newspaper=Daily Monitor via AllAfrica.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date=13 December 2016 | url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Zoka-forest-loot-worries-Madi-head/688334-3484170-k2uqpo/index.html | title=Zoka forest loot worries Madi head | access-date=13 December 2016 | last=Owich | first=James | newspaper=Daily Monitor | location=Kampala}}</ref>
==Conflicting interests==
===Prime minister's investigation=== In August 2016, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda launched an investigation into the plundering of the Zoka Forest. The four-person team is led by Mary Karooro Okurut, the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister. Other team members include Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister Betty Amongi, Minister of Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris, and Minister of State for Northern Uganda Grace Kwiyucwiny.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://businessguideafrica.com/ruhakana-rugunda-appoints-four-ministers-to-probe-zoka-forest-plunder | title=Ruhakana Rugunda appoints Four Ministers to probe Zoka forest Plunder | date=6 August 2016 | access-date=11 November 2016 | publisher=Business Guide Africa (BGA) | author=BGA | archive-date=9 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109083657/http://businessguideafrica.com/ruhakana-rugunda-appoints-four-ministers-to-probe-zoka-forest-plunder/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-25 |title=Executive order No3: Museveni bans charcoal trade, guides on the Balaalo |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/executive-order-no3-museveni-bans-charcoal-trade-guides-on-the-balaalo--4247340 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref>
===UPDF vs NFA=== The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has in the past accused members of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) of illegally felling trees in the forest reserve and using UPDF trucks to transport the logs out of the forest. In October 2016, the resident commissioner of the Ajumani District told a press conference that she had photographs of UPDF trucks doing this. The trucks were followed to the Pabbo Army Detach in Amuru District, which is under the command of the 4th Division of the UPDF, headquartered in Gulu. The UPDF has mounted an investigation led by the 4th Division Commander, Brigadier Kayanja Muhanga.<ref name="Probe"/>
===Cabinet ministers disagree=== On 4 October 2016, State Minister of Lands Persis Namuganza called a press conference to announce plans to de-gazette part of the Zoka Forest to allow the Madhvani Group to grow sugarcane in the area and relieve the contract farmers in the Busoga sub-region. The contract farmers in Busoga are starving because they neglected to grow food for their own sustenance and instead planted sugarcane.<ref name="Deg"/>
The plan evoked immediate outrage from environmental groups, Friends of ZOKA, headed by William Leslie Amanzuru a dedicated environmentalist, the NFA, politicians, and concerned citizens. Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali, a member of parliament from the Adjumani District, called an impromptu meeting in which Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Betty Amongi disowned the plan announced by Namuganza, her junior minister.<ref>{{cite web | access-date=11 November 2016 | url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Ministers-disagree-on-Zoka-central-forest-giveaway/688334-3410814-qck2j0z/index.html | last=Kasozi | title=Ministers disagree on Zoka central forest giveaway | first=Ephraim | date=10 October 2016 | newspaper=Daily Monitor | location=Kampala}}</ref>
==See also== * Central Forest Reserves of Uganda
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Category:Forest reserves of Uganda Category:Adjumani District Category:Northern Region, Uganda