¶ MANAGEMENT AND LOGISTICS
For effective implementation of this FMP, the required staff and other logistics should be available. NFA must ensure that the four technical field staffs in Mpanga Sector are well facilitated in terms of provision of appropriate transport means (including fuel, repairs and maintenance), timely payment of salaries and allowances and training in relevant areas where staff may need specific in-service training such as in GIS, forest inventories (exploratory inventory(EI), integrated stock survey and management inventory(ISSMI), permanent sample plot (PSP)establishment and measurements, and special inventories), collaborative forest management (CFM)so as to perform to the set standards.
¶ 8.1 STAFFING
The proposed persons directly employed by the NFA for the Sector will comprise of seven (7) people. These will include; 1 Sector Manager and 6 Forest Supervisors. Currently, the position of Sector Manager is vacant and should be filled immediately for proper running of the activities in the MPA. The Sector Manager and Forest Supervisors in conjunction with the Range Manager Lakeshore Range will supervise this FMP implementation with timely technical and administrative backstopping from NFA Headquarters.
At the operational level, the Sector Manager will be the overall in charge of the MPA. The sector shall be divided into six beats comprising of Mpanga, Mpanga Ecotourism, Bongole, Maddu, Buwama and Mpenja (Table 25), with each beat managed by a Forest Supervisor who shall report directly to the Sector Manager (Prescription 70).
Table 25: Proposed Staff deployment in Mpanga MPA
¶ 8.1.1 Labour
Most of the required labour to do field activities will be managed through contracts. Apart from forest protection largely by patrolling, which is part and parcel of the sectors’ sustainable forest management program and carried out every month, contracts for provision of labour are awarded as and when need arises for the services. The Mpanga Sector NFA staff shall supervise the contractors.
¶ 8.1.2 Transport
The present deployment of technical NFA staff is inadequate, therefore, for efficient supervision. Therefore, six (6) motorcycles shall be procured and more fuel should be allocated. The current UGX 100,000/= per month per motorcycle is very inadequate. The current fuel allocation to the motorcycles and the motor vehicle is only enough for 3 weeks. This leaves the last week of every month with no field supervision.
The motorcycles and vehicle shall be maintained and repaired in time, fuel increased by at least 30% and a vehicle stationed in the Sector for joint patrols and for rapid and timely response against illegal activities (Prescription 71).
¶ 8.2 INFRASTRUCTURE
¶ 8.2.1 Roads
Most CFRs in the sector are accessible by public roads. These roads will continue to be maintained by Mpigi, Butambala and Gomba District LGs and the respective Town Councils therein. Wherever necessary and depending on the need, the NFA or farmers licensed to grow trees in CFRs shall construct management roads and tracks to enable access for various management activities (Prescription 72).
¶ 8.2.2 Buildings
The existing buildings in the two stations of Gangu and Mpanga Ecotourism site will continue to be maintained regularly during this Plan period.
However, more visitor accommodation in the Eco-site will require to be constructed to meet the number, standards, tastes and preferences of the various segments of tourists visiting the site. A total of 6 new buildings shall be constructed in the three (3) Eco-sites including Luwafu and Nakaga or Lukolo, though the exact number will be determined after doing a thorough feasibility and market survey (Prescription 73).
Within this Plan period, five (5) more houses with the associated accessories need to be built to cater for office space and accommodation for staff in the remaining five beats of Mpenja, Maddu, Buwama, Mpanga and Bongole. This will contribute to the effective and efficient management and protection of the CFRs in these beats.
Priority however, will be given to Mpenja and Mpanga beats since the FS Bongole can in the meantime be housed in Gangu Station. The exact location of the new field stations will be decided by both Sector and relevant Headquarter staff after considering staff safety or security and the relative distance to the CFRs in the beat (Prescription 74).
¶ 8.3 VEHICLES
For effective management of the sector, one (1) 4-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle and four (6) motorcycles shall be procured and maintained in the MPA for the Sector Manager and Forest Supervisors respectively (Prescription 75).
¶ 8.4 RECORDS
Records of all forest fieldwork shall be kept at the Sector and Beat Offices.
Detailed records shall be kept as shown in Appendix 6 but specifically the Range Manager, the Sector Manager and Forest Supervisors shall keep the following:
i. All CFR reports
ii. Monthly and quarterly revenue and expenditure returns
iii. Annual and quarterly Operation Plans
iv. Monthly, quarterly and annual reports
v. Copies of permits (in printed books)
vi. Central Forest Reserve Profiles
vii. Research findings
viii. Ecotourism records (including visitor numbers)
ix. Amendments to the FMP
Thirty-two (32) copies of this FMP shall be distributed and properly maintained as shown below:
Forest Supervisors 4 copies
Sector Manager 1 master copy
Range Manager 1 master copy
Hon. Minister Water and Environment 2 field copies
Executive Director/NFA 2 copies
Corporate Affairs office/NFA 1 copy
Director Natural Forests 1 copy
Mpigi District Local Government 1 copy
Butambala District Local Government 1 copy
Gomba District Local Government 1 copy
Sub-counties neighbouring MPA 7 copies
NFA library 1 copy
NEMA 1 copy
Key NGOs/Partners 3 copies
Town Councils of Mpigi, Buwama, Gombe, Kibibi and Bude 5 copies
In October each year, the Sector Manager and the Range Manager shall update their master copies and send copies of the updated information to the Executive Director/NFA and other FMP owners for updating their copies. All copies shall be updated not later than 31st December of each year (Prescription 76).
¶ 8.5 EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS
One (1) generator shall be procured to provide stand by power at the SMs office in Gangu, in addition to the relevant tools and equipment (Table 26) that shall be procured for the sector to be used in the Sector office and nursery at Gangu and by the rest of the staff in their respective beats (Prescription 77).
Table 26: Tools and Equipment to be procured for use in the MPA
A weather station shall be located at Gangu or any other station, once renovated or re-established, but near where plantation forestry is being promoted, to guide NFA staff and private tree farmers in making informed decisions when planning their forest activities. It shall contain a rain gauge and thermometers for measurement of rainfall and temperature respectively (Prescription 78).
¶ 8.6 HEALTH AND SAFETY
NFA has a medical insurance scheme, which benefits all staff irrespective of seniority and designation. This scheme will still be functional during this plan period. NFA staff are also insured under the workman’s compensation scheme. Therefore, in accordance with the terms of both schemes, the health and medical needs of the staff will be catered as such.
Seven (7) First Aid Kit and basic safety gear namely, protective wear, ponchos, water bottles and whistles, shall be provided to staff within the first year of the FMP (Prescription 79).
Training in motorcycle riding and maintenance shall be regularly conducted so as to reduce the risks of accidents and break down of NFA staff and motorcycles respectively (Prescription 80).