Residents reject 3bn worth of project

Residents from four sub-counties neighboring Mt Elgon national park have rejected government projects worth three billion shillings over the current boundary disputes.

Uganda Wildlife authority-UWA with Rwenzori Trekking Services signed a memorandum of understanding this year in January to develop Mt Elgon national park in the sub-counties of Masaba, Zesui, Bugitimwa and Namugabwe.

Brian Kibalama, the manager of Rwezori Trekking Services on Saturday told a meeting at Bugitimwa sub county that they are going to construct good accommodation lodges for tourists, plant bamboo plants, and construct roads connecting to the national park. He added that the project was supposed to start in January this year but it has been delayed because community members from four sub-counties claim the national park land and want compensation before the commencement of the project.

Simon Gibuda, the LCIII chairperson of Bugitimwa sub country says in 2017, government regazetted the boundaries of Mt Elgon national park while upgrading it from forest reserves to a national park. He adds that during gazettement of the boundaries, the government pledged to compensate 2,000 people which has never happened update.

Gibuda says that currently, the number of people living in the park has grown from 2,000 to 5,000 from the four sub-counties neighboring Mt Elgon national park, who are going to lose their land yet the government has not yet compensated them if that project commences.