UWA denies torture chambers
Mar 16, 2010
THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) last week clashed with herdsmen in Nyabushozi, Kiruhura district over reportedly owning torture chambers inside Lake Mburo National Park.
By Ben Mugisa
THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) last week clashed with herdsmen in Nyabushozi, Kiruhura district over reportedly owning torture chambers inside Lake Mburo National Park.
The herdsmen, who hail from the cattle corridors around the park, also accused UWA authorities of allowing rich cattle keepers to graze their animals in the park at a fee, which is contrary to the law.
The accusations were made in a meeting held at Sanga sub-county headquarters. It was chaired by the Lake Mburo land owners and wildlife association chairman, Charles Nuwagaba.
The meeting was aimed at finding a solution to how animals from the park can live in harmony with the residents.
The UWA conservation officer, Sam Mwandha, denied the allegation that there was a torture chamber in the park.
He, however, accepted allowing animals to graze in the park at a fee he did not disclose.
“It is true we allow some herdsmen to graze inside the park at a fee, but the whole exercise has been mismanaged by officers in my department. I don’t agree with those who say there is a torture chamber in the park. If it is there, I will find out,†he said.
Gen. Elly Tumwine, who attended the meeting said: “Let the park management stop allowing the grazing of animals inside the park.â€
He added that people’s gardens must be protected from stray animals from the national park.
Tumwine asked the herdsmen to stop killing the wild animals, saying this would affect the tourism sector, one of the major foreign exchange earners for the country.
UWA accused the chairman of Rurambira wildlife association, Col. Dick Bugingo, of fueling the conflict between them and the residents, which he denied.
Last month, President Yoweri Museveni met the two parties and directed that the national park be fenced off. However, Mwandha said they did not have the money to fence the park.
THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) last week clashed with herdsmen in Nyabushozi, Kiruhura district over reportedly owning torture chambers inside Lake Mburo National Park.
The herdsmen, who hail from the cattle corridors around the park, also accused UWA authorities of allowing rich cattle keepers to graze their animals in the park at a fee, which is contrary to the law.
The accusations were made in a meeting held at Sanga sub-county headquarters. It was chaired by the Lake Mburo land owners and wildlife association chairman, Charles Nuwagaba.
The meeting was aimed at finding a solution to how animals from the park can live in harmony with the residents.
The UWA conservation officer, Sam Mwandha, denied the allegation that there was a torture chamber in the park.
He, however, accepted allowing animals to graze in the park at a fee he did not disclose.
“It is true we allow some herdsmen to graze inside the park at a fee, but the whole exercise has been mismanaged by officers in my department. I don’t agree with those who say there is a torture chamber in the park. If it is there, I will find out,†he said.
Gen. Elly Tumwine, who attended the meeting said: “Let the park management stop allowing the grazing of animals inside the park.â€
He added that people’s gardens must be protected from stray animals from the national park.
Tumwine asked the herdsmen to stop killing the wild animals, saying this would affect the tourism sector, one of the major foreign exchange earners for the country.
UWA accused the chairman of Rurambira wildlife association, Col. Dick Bugingo, of fueling the conflict between them and the residents, which he denied.
Last month, President Yoweri Museveni met the two parties and directed that the national park be fenced off. However, Mwandha said they did not have the money to fence the park.