Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has asked the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to resolve Mount Elgon Park boundary disputes.
During plenary sitting held on Wednesday, August 14 2024, Tayebwa said a conclusive report on steps taken to resolve the disputes should be shared with the House in a month.
“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 a final guidance, and you inform these people whether you want to re-open the boundaries or not and we have it settled,” Tayebwa said.
This followed concerns by Hon. William Chemonges (NRM, Kween County) over the lack of boundaries, which has resulted into 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. Last week my colleague, Hon 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 government over 30 years to sort out a very simple matter which just needs [the demarcation of] a permanent boundary between the people and the national park.”
Chief Opposition Whip, Hon. 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.
Hon. 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.
“May be 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, Hon. 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 to 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 hostility towards rangers and UWA officials.
Mount Elgon National Park was originally gazetted as a forest reserve in 1938 and later designated as a national park in 1993, and it covers the districts of Mbale, Namisindwa, Kapchorwa, Kween, Sironko, Bukwo, and Bududa.
