Parliament halts evictions in Mt. Elgon National Park

KAMPALA – The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has issued a directive to Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] officials in Sebei sub-region to halt evictions of people living around Mt. Elgon National Park.

She gave the directive on Wednesday, following a request by Kween County MP, William Chemonges to government, to follow up the matter.

“Even if these people are encroaching, they do not deserve to be replaced. Can the status quo be maintained? Can government order that UWA officials should not evict anybody?” Among said.

Chemonges said the homes of about 30 families have been destroyed in the evictions, despite that they have lived there for more than 40 years.

“Between 24 and 28 April this year, UWA carried out illegal evictions along the boundary of Mt. Elgon National Park. They uprooted crops like maize and beat up people. Up to now, nobody has come to their rescue,” he said.

The Kween County MP added that the families settled there before the area was demarcated as part of the Mt. Elgon National Park, and that officials at the UWA office in Mbale had no idea of the evictions.

“In 2005 after the forest was turned into a national park, the community took government to court. Government consented that it would resettle them before they are evicted. I spoke to Mr Kiiza who heads the national park and he told me he is not aware of these evictions,” he added.

In the October 27, 2005 Consent Judgment and Decree of the Uganda High Court, the 1,500 hectare area in question was to be withdrawn from its designation as a national park area and the indigenous Benet inhabitants therein were entitled to stay within the area undisturbed and carry out their agricultural activities.

Chemonges tasked the Attorney General to inform Parliament of the status of the consent judgement, and called on government to urgently resettle the affected persons.

To’o County MP, Solomon Chelangat said resettlement packages of people resettled in camps in Yotui and Teryet in Bukwo district, have not been delivered in over five years.

“Their source of livelihood is through cattle keeping but they do not have land for grazing. When they take their cows to graze in the forest, they collide with UWA officials and many of our people have been unfortunately killed,” Chelangat said.

Speaker Among directed that all the affected persons of evictions in the area ought to be supported with relief from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rukia Nakadama committed to hold a meeting this Friday to receive a report on the matter and put it to rest.

“I will call the Minister of Tourism and we shall meet with all the area MPs so that we can solve this matter and see how it can be concluded,” Nakadama said.

Kukur-Madi-Aringa border conflict

Meanwhile, legislators have asked government to demarcate all borders to solve land conflict between the Kukur of South Sudan, Madi of Uganda and the Aringa of Yumbe district.

The MPs demands follows prayers presented during matters of national importance by the West Moyo County MP, Tom Alero.

According to Alero, the Kukur of South Sudan, Madi of Uganda and the Aringa of Yumbe district have been embroiled in border conflicts, with one attacking the other, resulting in massive displacement of people.

He established that fighting over land and boundaries in Gwere West in Moyo district escalated when a group of South Sudanese attacked Goboro Parish Centre, Linyamiro and Feya among other areas, provoking a retaliation from the Ugandans who attacked the Kukur tribe also in Gwere West leading to over 100 cows being driven away towards Yumbe.

Additionally, most of the homes which were attacked and torched by the South Sudanese belong to the Aringa of Yumbe, the Kakwa of Koboko, the people of Maracha, and Terego who are settled near the border with South Sudan.

In his prayers, Alero requested government to expedite border demarcation between Uganda and South Sudan, provide relief items and food for the displaced persons, increase surveillance and protection of refugees and secure the border.

Yumbe District Woman Representative, Melsa Avako, condemned the attacks saying that over 2,000 people have been displaced and confined at Goboro Parish Centre awaiting government intervention.

She noted that lives had been lost and properties destroyed, with the community living in fear.  “The situation that we are facing is a serious disaster in the region. There is no hope for them,” she said.

Susan Amero, the Amuria district Woman Member of Parliament recalled that in the 10th Parliament, when they visited the border, they were held at gun point by the South Sudanese.

After narrating their ordeal to the House, Amero said money was provided for the demarcation process. However, to this date, she continues to wonder where the money was spent and tasked government to provide answers.

“We want government to come out and tell us clearly where our borders end. We were put on gun point for 45 minutes when we visited that border. The land that was given for training to the South Sudanese soldiers and they now own it,” she said.

Speaker Among related the situation to the Tororo border conflict and asked Fredrick Angura, the Tororo South MP, to inform the House on what transpired in London when the committee went to ascertain the original border documents.

Angura emphasised that the solution to border challenges internally and externally were resolved by the Addis Ababa Resolution, when independence was granted to nations after the partitioning of the continent and that there was an agreement that there would be no demarcation of borders internally or eternally.

He continued: “Any border issue that is being contested has a solution. When we went to London all the documents were available, both internally and externally. The original documents are there, even for those before colonialism. We are only waiting for the report from the President,” he said.

Nakadama, pledged she would ascertain the availability of food from the stores and ensure that they are provided to the people in need and pledged to find a solution to the border conflict.

She, however, guided that some security issues could not be discussed in the House but tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to handle the situation.

https://thecooperator.news/apaa-land-conflict-adjumani-leaders-promise-to-fight-on/

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