News By E-Society Kasese
Story By Bridget Karungi
Posted Wednesday, December 12 2012 at 02:00
Posted Wednesday, December 12 2012 at 02:00
In Summary
Land wrangle. The move follows a petition filed by
residents neighbouring Semiliki National Park, who accuse the latter of
displacing them from their land.
This follows a petition filed by residents to the
Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, accusing park authorities of
displacing them and demarcating their land.
The residents, through Mr Boaz Kafuda, the
Busongora South MP, said more than 1,878 people in Kijura Town Council
and Hakibaale Sub-county in Kabarole District had been evicted.
They also claimed that about six people in
Katunguru Village, Kasese District had been killed by stray animals from
Queen Elizabeth National Park in less than a year.
Last week, an eight-member team led by Burahya
County MP Stephen Kagwera visited Kijura, Hakibaale and Kicwamba
sub-counties and spoke with wildlife officials.
Mr Kagwera said the visit was to verify the merit of the petition as directed by Ms Kadaga.
In a meeting held at Katunguru Fishing Village,
the residents said they left the area in 2000 after being attacked by
ADF rebels.
The Hakibaale Sub-county chairperson, Mr Edson
Businge, told the legislators that after the rebels left the area, the
wildlife officials blocked residents from re-accessing their land,
saying it belonged to the park.
The conservation body erected pillars and warned residents against encroachment.
The residents also said animals from the park
always attack their gardens and homes leading to loss of lives and
property. They appealed to the government for help.
The chairperson Kijura Town Council, Mr Nayera Manyindo, said they were facing a food shortage as they do not have land to farm.
The lawmakers said they would report their findings to Parliament for possible action.
The chairperson Kijura Town Council, Mr Nayera Manyindo, said they were facing a food shortage as they do not have land to farm.
The lawmakers said they would report their findings to Parliament for possible action.
However, the Kibaale Conservation area manager, Mr Edward Asalu, said land boundary disputes would be solved locally.
He asked the residents to hire private surveyors and if found that the park encroached on their land, then the demarcations would be revised according to the law.
He asked the residents to hire private surveyors and if found that the park encroached on their land, then the demarcations would be revised according to the law.
