Leite (centre) speaking to officals of the timber growers association in Mpigi

By Jeff Lule

THE Norwegian Private Forest Growers (NORSKOG) has signed a partnership with the Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA) to support commercial timber growing with the aim of protecting forests.

The partnership was signed by NORSKOG director Arne Rora and the UTGA chairman, Robert Nabanyumya in Mpigi on Friday.

Rora said the partnership was aimed at developing UTGA for the provision of services to the private and public sectors for sustainable management and utilisation of plantation forests.

According to Nabanyumya, the association’s objective is to make quality products that are acceptable on the international market.
He said the association supplied improved seedlings to its members and lobbied for information, experience on tree growing, and advocacy for better land tenure security.

During the function, Norwegian ambassador Bjorg Leite, said Uganda, being part of the global warming regions, needed to encourage more timber growers to protect forests.
“People can use this project to earn some money,” she added.

Leite lamented that more than half of Uganda’s forests had been cleared thus affecting climate, tourism and wildlife.