Residents uproot Mt. Elgon boundary pillars
Apr 01, 2010
Residents of Bubyangu sub-county in Mbale district have uprooted 16 concrete pillars demarcating Mt. Elgon Forest National Park, sparking off renewed hostility between them and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
By Daniel Edyegu
Residents of Bubyangu sub-county in Mbale district have uprooted 16 concrete pillars demarcating Mt. Elgon Forest National Park, sparking off renewed hostility between them and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
The pillars that were erected in 2004 after a survey of the park boundary were uprooted in Bunamoli and Kilayi parishes.
Some of the pillars were buried under the soil, while others were either destroyed and banana suckers panted in their place or carried to unknown locations.
At Bunamoli parish, the residents have encroached on more park for agricultural purposes.
They argued that UWA deviated from the 1993 boundary and planted border p
illars on their land.
“Nobody here has cultivated beyond the 1993 boundary. We do not recognise the 2004 boundary because UWA used it to grab our land. There were no consultations done with the locals during the survey and erection of pillars,†said Stephen Gibuso, the Bunamoli LC1 chairman.
The UWA park rangers said the residents, following directives from the local leaders, went on rampage uprooting pillars at night with the aim of destroying the boundary so as to encroach on the park.
“Nobody is willing to volunteer information on the culprits. We have not been able to apprehend anybody,†a park ranger said.
However, Richard Matanda, the Mt. Elgon conservation warden, on Monday said there was no shift in the demarcation of the park boundary at Bubyangu sub-county during the 1993 and the 2004 exercises.
Matanda said white canes were used to demarcate the boundary in 1993, which were lighter and smaller compared to the present concrete pillars.
“After we had planted the canes, the residents uprooted and shifted them inside the park. They cut six lines of eucalyptus trees that we planted to augment the border,†he explained.
“Only tree stamps have remained of the eucalyptus and people are cultivating deeper into the park. So we retraced the 1968 boundary and planted the current pillars,†Matanda added.
Adonia Bintoora, the area conservation manager, said UWA plans to meet the local leaders and residents to educate them on the relevance of the park so as to resolve the conflict.
Residents of Bubyangu sub-county in Mbale district have uprooted 16 concrete pillars demarcating Mt. Elgon Forest National Park, sparking off renewed hostility between them and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
The pillars that were erected in 2004 after a survey of the park boundary were uprooted in Bunamoli and Kilayi parishes.
Some of the pillars were buried under the soil, while others were either destroyed and banana suckers panted in their place or carried to unknown locations.
At Bunamoli parish, the residents have encroached on more park for agricultural purposes.
They argued that UWA deviated from the 1993 boundary and planted border p
illars on their land.
“Nobody here has cultivated beyond the 1993 boundary. We do not recognise the 2004 boundary because UWA used it to grab our land. There were no consultations done with the locals during the survey and erection of pillars,†said Stephen Gibuso, the Bunamoli LC1 chairman.
The UWA park rangers said the residents, following directives from the local leaders, went on rampage uprooting pillars at night with the aim of destroying the boundary so as to encroach on the park.
“Nobody is willing to volunteer information on the culprits. We have not been able to apprehend anybody,†a park ranger said.
However, Richard Matanda, the Mt. Elgon conservation warden, on Monday said there was no shift in the demarcation of the park boundary at Bubyangu sub-county during the 1993 and the 2004 exercises.
Matanda said white canes were used to demarcate the boundary in 1993, which were lighter and smaller compared to the present concrete pillars.
“After we had planted the canes, the residents uprooted and shifted them inside the park. They cut six lines of eucalyptus trees that we planted to augment the border,†he explained.
“Only tree stamps have remained of the eucalyptus and people are cultivating deeper into the park. So we retraced the 1968 boundary and planted the current pillars,†Matanda added.
Adonia Bintoora, the area conservation manager, said UWA plans to meet the local leaders and residents to educate them on the relevance of the park so as to resolve the conflict.