By Patrick Jaramogi
URGENT food aid is needed to save the lives of over 1,000 Benet people, the Kapchorwa district chairman, Nelson Chelimo has said.

“The situation in Benet is pathetic. People have no food and shelter following their eviction by Uganda Wildlife Authority and the army,” Chelimo said in a statement.

“They are living like wild creatures. The Government should immediately intervene to avert the looming disaster.”

The Kapchorwa district councillor for the Benet, Moses Mwanga, on Saturday read the statement to journalists in Kampala.

The Benet, also known as the Ndorobo, live on the slopes of Mt. Elgon where they have been for over 200 years. But they were evicted in February following the murder of a Belgian tourist at Hunters Cave.

Flanked by the Benet lobby group coordinator, David Kanda and general secretary Edward Twala, Mwanga decried landlessness, saying it was unfortunate that in this modern era, some Ugandans did not have land in their country.

He said 1,250 people, mainly women and children, were evicted and now live in caves or under trees on the cliffs of Mt. Elgon.

“The situation is terrible. People do not have access to health services. Why are we suffering in our own country? Why can’t the Government help resettle us? This is discrimination.”

The Benet occupied Mt. Elgon National Park land in 1983. But the Government later gazzetted part of the park, leaving 6,000 hectares.

The Benet, who number about 30,000, are mainly pastoralists, wild game hunters and fruit gatherers.

At a recent meeting with residents, tourism minister Janat Mukwaya said the Government had secured land to resettle the Benet and was only awaiting funds to undertake the exercise.