By Weswa Ronnie
BUGISU
Government using its Surveyors is going to reopen Mt Elgon national park boundaries as a way of getting a lasting solution to the conflict between Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and locals neighboring the park.
This was revealed by Rashid Hangi, the UWA Communications Officer on Thursday, 14th November, 2024 while speaking to our reporter in an exclusive phone interview.
Hangi says that government is going to bring neutral Surveyors who will reopen the boundaries before the end of this year.
Locals from sub counties neighbouring Mt Elgon national park from Bududa, Namisindwa, Mbale, Bulambuli and Sironko have been confronting UWA officers on several occasions with either side accusing the other of crossing the boundary.
He says that they have agreed with all people neighboring all government National parks to reopen boundaries such that they have lasting solutions.
Hangi also says that it’s not only Mt Elgon national Park where they are conflicting with neighboring communities adding that they have similar conflicts with neighbors of other parks.
He says it’s possible that either the population or UWA may have gone beyond the boundaries but these neutral Surveyors will come with the final ruling which all parties will adhere to.
In October, 2024, UWA slashed crops of about 200 people neighboring Elgon National Park at Mukoto Sub County in Namisindwa district after accusing the population of encroaching on park land.
This incident forced Namisidnwa district leaders and UWA to hold a meeting with affected locals to look for a lasting solution which left both sides still blaming each other of crossing the boundary.
Julie Namara, the Namisindwa Resident District Commissioner says that UWA last reopened the boundary in 2014 at Mt Elgon Nation Park but due to increased number of people because of favorable climate and good fertile soils, some have crossed official boundary and entered into the Park.
She says that these Surveyors will give long lasting solutions to the recurring conflicts between UWA and the community neighboring Mt Elgon National Park.
Twakha Masolo and Sam Wete all residents from Tsekululu sub county in Namisindwa district neighboring Mt Elgon national park expressed their happiness saying this will give a lasting solution.
They say UWA has deliberately crossed into their land and when they try to resist, they either beat or kill them.
