According to George Wete, one of the affected residents from Mukoto sub-county, UWA staff were seen on Sunday cutting down crops such as bananas, coffee, and Irish potatoes, claiming they had been planted on land belonging to Mount Elgon National Park.
Through the Integrated Water Management and Development Project, aimed at supporting communities in implementing catchment management measures, the initiative targets areas of the upper and lower Awoja River, covering the districts of Katakwi, Bukedea, Sironko, and Bulambuli.
Charles Anyakun, the chairperson of the Karamoja Pensioners Association, recalled that the first Europeans' entry to Karamoja was in 1908 through the Napak district in the areas of Lotome and Kangole. The British, who were armed with guns, were confronted by the locals who fought them with spears.
This migration follows the collapse and subsequent closure of the Kiteezi landfill in August, which resulted in the deaths of over 35 people, with 28 others still missing.
Yahaya Okuje, the procurement chairperson of the Indilinga East Group in Obongi Town Council, highlighted past shoddy works by Gulu University Hoima Campus, where previous fish cage projects under NUSAF failed to deliver any results.
Speaking about the recent operation, Maj. Frank Kanzira, the FPU Operations Officer, noted that over five months, the unit impounded illegal fishing gear worth over UGX 2 billion across major fishing areas in the country.
