The Uganda Wild Life Authority has criticized the high rate of encroachment on Mt. Elgon National Park, saying 3,928 hectares of the park have been infringed on following President Yoweri Museveni’s directive on evictions in forest reserves.

In a yesterday press statement, the UWA Executive Director, Mr Moses Mapesa, said the affected part represents 3.5% of the Mt Elgon fragile national park ecosystem.

At some stage in the February 23 election campaigns, Museveni prearranged the Ministry of Lands, Water and Environment to stop the progress of forest reserve and wetlands evections. But the statement said: “The President’s directive to stop evictions from forest reserves was misapprehended as allowing fresh encroachment in Mt Elgon under the alleged reason that these people had earlier been evicted.”

The statement said Mt Elgon is a national park managed by UWA and not a forest reserve. Forest reserves are managed by the National Forest Authority.

When the President was in Mbale, he advised against harassment as people agitated for land (to encroach) and indeed UWA did heed the advice,” Mapesa said.

“But the result was massive encroachment in the areas of Bumasifwa and Busuluni in Sironko, Wanale and Bufumbo in Mbale district.”
He recognized other areas as Bududa, Busano, Bushika, Bulucheke, Bubita, Bubwala, Bumbo in Manafwa district. Mapesa urged residents in eastern Uganda to stop encroaching on the park, saying it is a water catchment area. He said the park plays a big role in soil stability and climate regulation.

BY NAMISI

Uganda Safari News