President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured residents living near the Mount Elgon conservation area that the government will resolve the boundary dispute with UWA after the elections.
Addressing a campaign rally in Kween District, President Museveni said the issue of unclear park boundaries had been pending since the time Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda served as Prime Minister.
“I had instructed the team under the guidance of Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, while he was the Prime Minister, to sort out the issue, but I am surprised that nothing was done; however, I am going to follow up and have the issue resolved,” he said.
There has been a long-standing conflict between the Benet and Ndorobo communities and the Uganda Wildlife Authority over a strip of land along Mount Elgon in the Sebei region. Several people have lost their lives, and properties have been destroyed whenever they have crossed the National Park boundary.
He said he is surprised to learn that the issue had not been resolved despite earlier plans. He promised to convene a conference with Kween District leaders after the elections to reach a permanent solution.
“We shall have a conference after the elections to find a lasting solution to the issue between the national park and the communities neighboring it. The boundary matter will be sorted once and for all,” Museveni said. While Museveni has feigned ignorance about the dispute between UWA and the communities, the matter has been discussed on the floor of Parliament. The matter came up in mid-August 2024, during the plenary sitting chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa.
Tayebwa personally demanded action on the matter. “The question is very simple, just sort out the issue of boundaries because what is happening on the Sebei side is happening on the Bugisu side. Can I request that you [Minister] develop a Cabinet paper, you take it to Cabinet, get final guidance, and you inform these people whether you want to re-open the boundaries or not, and we have it settled,” Tayebwa said.
That followed concerns by William Chemonges (NRM, Kween County) over the lack of boundaries, which has resulted in endless human-wildlife conflicts, costing Kween District locals’ crops and animals. “I get ashamed to talk about this every time, but I have no alternative. This matter is one of the matters that we have failed to get a solution for. Last week, my colleague, Evelyn, talked about it when the UWA [Uganda Wildlife Authority] officers shot five cows. Not even a month, they have cut over 30 acres of Irish and maize,” said Chemonges.
He added, “We have failed to understand why it has taken the government over 30 years to sort out a very simple matter which just needs a permanent boundary between the people and the national park.” Chief Opposition Whip, John Baptist Nambeshe, accused UWA officials of perpetuating violent confrontation with locals.
“The running battles between UWA and the people have been going on for a long time. We have lost many of our people to the trigger-happy UWA personnel, and something drastic must be done by this government,” Nambeshe said.
Sarah Opendi (NRM, Tororo District) pointed out that during her tenure as Minister of State for Lands, a Cabinet subcommittee comprising Ministries of Land, Tourism, and Health produced a Cabinet paper saying that this needs a follow-up.
“Maybe that could be a starting point so that we implement the decisions made at that time,” Opendi said. The Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra, said the Cabinet paper on the boundary demarcation will be expedited.
“I will put a request, as soon as it is discussed, I will be back at the House. Our interest is to resolve this matter once and for all, and we have prepared a Cabinet paper. The Attorney General has given advice, but I think we need to have ours, so that Cabinet can resolve the matter,” said Mugarra. He, however, blamed locals for their hostility towards rangers and UWA officials
The President also addressed the plight of landslide victims and communities living in disaster-prone areas, revealing that the government had already secured funds to purchase land for their relocation.
“The government has secured 56 billion shillings to buy at least two acres of land per household, plus ten million shillings to help them start. We already have the money; what remains is to identify the land. The State Minister for Disaster Preparedness is handling the process,” Museveni said.
Museveni further urged the people of Kween to embrace the government’s wealth creation programs, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, to lift themselves out of poverty.
“We have good roads, but you can’t sleep on the road. You must engage in productive activities that improve your household income, in line with the NRM manifesto of getting Ugandans out of poverty,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the President also responded to concerns raised by Kween leaders in a joint memo with the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) over alleged conflicts among civil servants and politicians in the district.
He said he would dispatch a team from his office to audit and investigate the issues raised to establish the truth and provide guidance.
“I will send my authorities to come on the ground and ascertain the truth so that we can have a resolution,” Museveni assured.
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