Bakonzo Warn UWA On Sites
Jun 08, 2003
THE Bakonzo veteran freedom fighters have warned the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) against sealing off their cultural sites in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP).
By John Nzinjah
THE Bakonzo veteran freedom fighters have warned the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) against sealing off their cultural sites in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP).
The warning follows plans by UWA to make a comprehensive survey of national parks and protected areas in the country. It is a World Bank-funded project that will start in July.
“We would like to inform UWA in advance that we want access to our cultural sites in the Rwenzori Mountains. This time the most productive areas in the mountains should not be sealed off,†the Rwenzururu Veterans Development Association (RVDA) chairman, Yolamu Mulima, said recently.
Flanked by some of his executive members at the RVDA office in Kasese town, Mulima said the current RMNP boundary, which was made in 1936, had been made with ill feelings.
“That boundary was put there by the colonialists who aimed at oppressing the Bakonzo and closing them in a narrow corridor between the mountains and the plains where the park is,†Mulima said.
“King Isaya Mukirania Kyibanzanga is buried there. Our sacred places where we used to sacrifice to our gods are also sealed off. This is unfair to the Bakonzo,†the RVDA secretary, Nzaghale, said.
At a meeting with Kasese leaders from sub-counties neighbouring the national parks and protected areas in the district, UWA announced Government plans to re-demarcate the boundaries of 10 national parks and 13 protected areas in the country.
UWA natural resource coordinator, Edgar Buhanga, said a survey would be made, starting with Rwenzori and Elgon mountains. Ends
THE Bakonzo veteran freedom fighters have warned the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) against sealing off their cultural sites in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP).
The warning follows plans by UWA to make a comprehensive survey of national parks and protected areas in the country. It is a World Bank-funded project that will start in July.
“We would like to inform UWA in advance that we want access to our cultural sites in the Rwenzori Mountains. This time the most productive areas in the mountains should not be sealed off,†the Rwenzururu Veterans Development Association (RVDA) chairman, Yolamu Mulima, said recently.
Flanked by some of his executive members at the RVDA office in Kasese town, Mulima said the current RMNP boundary, which was made in 1936, had been made with ill feelings.
“That boundary was put there by the colonialists who aimed at oppressing the Bakonzo and closing them in a narrow corridor between the mountains and the plains where the park is,†Mulima said.
“King Isaya Mukirania Kyibanzanga is buried there. Our sacred places where we used to sacrifice to our gods are also sealed off. This is unfair to the Bakonzo,†the RVDA secretary, Nzaghale, said.
At a meeting with Kasese leaders from sub-counties neighbouring the national parks and protected areas in the district, UWA announced Government plans to re-demarcate the boundaries of 10 national parks and 13 protected areas in the country.
UWA natural resource coordinator, Edgar Buhanga, said a survey would be made, starting with Rwenzori and Elgon mountains. Ends