MASINDI – There was excitement and jubilation days ago in Labongo and Kiruli sub-counties in Masindi district as organised groups received Shs 191 million from the Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] to develop themselves.
The funds received are a 20 percent share of the revenue collected from Murchison Falls National Park. 23 groups from Labongo Sub-county got Shs 110mln while 16 groups from Kiruli Sub-county received Shs 81mln from UWA.
The beneficiary groups are involved in goat rearing, beekeeping, food processing, and oxen ploughs, among others, and the groups are expected to invest further in these projects using the money received.
According to David Asiimwe, the Kiruli Sub-county chief, the beneficiaries were drawn from the villages adjacent to the park and have been persistently invaded by the stray wild animals such as elephants. The villages include Nyakarongo, Bagidad, Kyeicumu, and Kyabatiti, among others,” said Asiimwe.
He further noted group members will procure the items through their own procurement committees. He said they will also be supported by the technical team. Each group got between Shs 3.5 – 6mln to spend on their projects.
Speaking during the official launch for the disbursement of the funds at Kitanyata Primary School in Kiruli Sub-county days ago, Eddy Aguuda the LCIII chairperson for Kiruli Sub-county said the groups that received the money had been verified.
He advised the members not to divert the money but use it for the purpose it was intended to serve.
He lauded government for releasing the money as suggested by the beneficiary groups. “I want to commend government for thinking of giving this money directly to the beneficiaries,” he said.
The residents also commended the government for ensuring that they get a share of the local revenue collected from the game park.
However, they asked government to establish an electric fence to deter stray wild animals from destroying their crops.
Robert Abiya, the Masindi chief administrative officer asked for transparency and accountability among the groups’ procurement committees to ensure value for money.
Geoffrey Bigabwa, the secretary for production Masindi District Local Government assured the members that an electric fence has been secured by UWA and will be erected soon.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi district LCV chairman asked the members not to spend the money on luxurious items, noting it is seed capital aimed at changing their livelihoods.
Emmy Nagabirano, the resident district commissioner Masindi asked the communities neighbouring the park to ensure that the wild animals in the game park are protected such it can generate more tourism revenue.
“We have given you this money. Stop poaching. Add value to your products. I also warn the procurement committees not to exaggerate the figures when buying items,” he said.
The money had spent almost a year on the sub-county accounts due to the disagreement on how to use it. A section of officials wanted to spend the money to dig a trench to deter animals from invading people’s gardens and homesteads while the local leaders wanted to spend the money on improving people’s livelihoods.
https://thecooperator.news/uwa-to-surround-marchison-falls-national-park-with-electric-fence/
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