Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has cut down crops of over 500 residents in Sironko district.
The operation was carried out today 29th August 2022 in the three villages of Kusi, Ngagai and Malara all located at Bufupa parish Masaba Sub County in Sironko district.
UWA has taken the move because residents in these villages allegedly planted crops inside Mt. Elgon Park land.
According to Patrick Wabugoya, the LCIII chairperson of Masaba Sub County, crops which were destroyed completely are carrots, cabbage, Irish potatoes, maize, and onions worth hundreds of millions.
He condemned UWA saying he is going to mobilize the affected people and sue government for malicious damage.
Deo Nabugodi, the area district councilor says that in March this year people neighboring Mt. Elgon National Park and their area local leaders had a meeting with UWA officers and agreed to leave people plant trees in areas where they had been cut in the park. He says it was also agreed that the residents be allowed to do some small farming activities in the land where the trees are planted as a way of reviving the cut trees.
He adds that people started planting trees and cultivating as agreed for the last six months but they were shocked today to see UWA slash down their crops.
Titus Wanya, one of the affected residents says that he has lost over 40 million shillings after all his Irish potatoes and cabbage were totally destroyed.
Wanya adds that he now expects hunger and will not manage to educate all his 5 children he had since crops he’s been using are destroyed.
Isaiah Sasaga Wanzira, the area Member of Parliament representing Budadiri East constituency in Sironko district has condemned the manner in which UWA behaved saying that he is going to follow the matter until the affected people get Justice.
Sasaga promised to raise that matter on the floor of parliament and urged government to come up with final clear demarcation boundaries between the population and the park such that they may solve the issue of conflicts between UWA and people neighboring the park.
However, Frederick Kizza, the manager of UWA Eastern and Northern region has dismissed the claims that locals neighbouring the park were allowed to carry out cultivation in the Park land.
He adds that it’s true they had a meeting and that suggestion was brought but it was not approved by their bosses in Kampala so it was not implemented meaning they didn’t allow any activity in the park.
Kizza revealed that UWA is going to carry out the same operations in other districts neighboring the Mt. Elgon National Park like Bulambuli, Mbale, Bududa, and Namisindwa since they have also encroached on park land claiming that they were permitted.
