Arrest park encroachers - Museveni
Apr 23, 2008
PEOPLE encroaching on forest reserves or national parks will be arrested. President Yoweri Museveni sounded the warning on Monday when meeting the Bunyoro parliamentary caucus.
By Gerald Tenywa
PEOPLE encroaching on forest reserves or national parks will be arrested, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
According to a State House statement, those allowing them would also face arrest.
The President sounded the warning on Monday when meeting the Bunyoro parliamentary caucus, led by internal affairs state minister Matia Kasaija at Riviera Hotel in Hoima town during his anti-poverty tour.
The Bunyoro leaders had informed the President that Balaalo herdsmen were grazing their cattle inside Murchison National Park and surrounding forests.
“We are going to get their cattle and sell them to pay the fines for grazing in protected areas. We shall also arrest the park and forest rangers who granted them access,†Museveni later told a rally in Bulisa.
Environmentalists have greeted the President’s statement with excitement.
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has been engaged in running battles with encroachers trying to evict them.
“It is an encouraging statement from the President,†Moses Watasa, NFA public relations manager, told The New Vision yesterday. “We hope that he will move a step further and revoke the executive order stopping evictions.â€
In January 2006 Museveni issued an order halting all evictions because of controversies surrounding the boundaries of forest reserves. Since then, according to NFA, the number of encroachers has increased from 180,000 to 300,000.
“The encroachers have been inviting their relatives and friends to come and settle in the forest reserves because they think it is free land,†Watasa said. “There is need for a strong political will to secure the protected areas.â€
PEOPLE encroaching on forest reserves or national parks will be arrested, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
According to a State House statement, those allowing them would also face arrest.
The President sounded the warning on Monday when meeting the Bunyoro parliamentary caucus, led by internal affairs state minister Matia Kasaija at Riviera Hotel in Hoima town during his anti-poverty tour.
The Bunyoro leaders had informed the President that Balaalo herdsmen were grazing their cattle inside Murchison National Park and surrounding forests.
“We are going to get their cattle and sell them to pay the fines for grazing in protected areas. We shall also arrest the park and forest rangers who granted them access,†Museveni later told a rally in Bulisa.
Environmentalists have greeted the President’s statement with excitement.
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has been engaged in running battles with encroachers trying to evict them.
“It is an encouraging statement from the President,†Moses Watasa, NFA public relations manager, told The New Vision yesterday. “We hope that he will move a step further and revoke the executive order stopping evictions.â€
In January 2006 Museveni issued an order halting all evictions because of controversies surrounding the boundaries of forest reserves. Since then, according to NFA, the number of encroachers has increased from 180,000 to 300,000.
“The encroachers have been inviting their relatives and friends to come and settle in the forest reserves because they think it is free land,†Watasa said. “There is need for a strong political will to secure the protected areas.â€