By Sadique Bamwita
Entebbe
The management of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has evicted over 50 encroachers occupying part of Entebbe Botanical Gardens’ land. The affected include Fred Mudowa, an official with National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO).
The affected encroachers claim they have lived on the disputed land for over 18 years and that evicting them without any compensation amounts to injustice of the highest order.
“We have lived on this land for 18 years but we were shocked to be served with an eviction notice requiring us to vacate within two weeks moreover without any compensation. We were employed by NARO but when UWA took over Botanical gardens, we were rendered jobless and this has been followed with an eviction order.
“Last year on October 1, 2024, a group of UWA officials came with armed cops and forcefully told us to stop working at Entebbe Botanical gardens as they brandished their guns before us, “Mr. Mudowa said on a phone interview.
“As affected tenants, we are planning to have a meeting anytime from now and agree on the action to take against UWA,’ he adds.
The letter dated February 5, 2025 authored by the outgoing UWA boss Sam Mwandha reads in parts:
‘It has come to our attention that without authorization from UWA- you are in occupation of part of the land that houses Entebbe Botanical gardens and that you constructed a structure there on it. Be informed your continued occupation is illegal and amounts to trespass.
“You are therefore directed to vacate the said land and premises within 14 days from the date of receipt of this notice. Should you fail or refuse to do so, UWA shall evict you from there at your own cost and embarrassment.’
Meanwhile, the Chief Warden for Entebbe zoo and Botanical gardens, Mr. David Musingo could not be reached for a comment as our calls went unanswered.
