Geoffrey Asiimwe Kamuhanda a resident of Kahendero landing site says they had a community engagement with UWA in 2019 and asked for public information on new laws and issues to do with human and wildlife conflicts.
Residents neighbouring Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese
District are asking Uganda Wildlife Authority- UWA to extend wildlife
information to rural areas.
They argue that they don’t see the relevance of this information
being pinned in town yet the key target group stay in the villages.
UWA has erected billboards in Kasese town to raise awareness of
wildlife offences and the new penalties.
But Geoffrey Asiimwe Kamuhanda a resident of Kahendero landing
site says they had a community engagement with UWA in 2019 and asked for public
information on new laws and issues to do with human and wildlife conflicts.
However, Asiimwe is surprised that this information has now been
placed in towns instead of the local communities neighbouring the park who are
its key recipients.
//Cue in: “Tukaikara nabo abakukwatyaho…
Cue out: …kihondo, bali kuli katwe.”//
Asiiimwe also asks UWA to start supporting the community in development
ventures to improve relationships between wildlife and the communities.
//Cue in: “Kyonka twineyo abana…
Cue out: ..omuntu akuhiga ekisoro.”//
Richard Kiiza from Kanyampara says people are lacking information regarding the
new laws despite UWA’s efforts to erect billboards. He says it’s only those who
are lucky to travel to town with knowledge of the English language that can
make a meaning out of this information.
He wants this information to be placed in their respective local areas and
language.
//Cue in: “Billboards tibiriyo oyaitu…
Cue out: …eya new act.”//
Janet Katusabe another resident blames UWA for failing to sensitize them on the
new law despite the community call. She demands UWA to organize community
dialogues to create awareness but also put up translated billboards into their
communities.
//Cue in: “Ebiragiro tutukubyetegyereza….
Cue out: …ntwija kubyetegereza.”//
Ham Natuhyera, the district councillor representing Nyakatonzi Sub
County says many community members neighbouring the park rarely travel to the
town. He also wants the messages to be translated into all the local
languages in the district for effective communication.
//Cue in: “You move in town…
Cue out: …to understand.”//
Ezra Turyahabwe the outgoing Karusandara Sub County is concerned that
if people lack information regarding the new wildlife law, they will continue
being on the wrong side of the law.
James Okware, the Senior Warden in charge of Rwenzori National Park
says that it was an oversight on their part not to circulate the information
into the prime target areas.
//Cue in: “The billboards are….
Cue out: …also get them.”//
In 2019, President Museveni assented to the Uganda Wildlife Act. The
seeks to among others, provide compensation for loss occasioned by animals
escaping from wildlife protected areas.
The law also provides for offences relating to protected species
such as Uganda Kob, leopard, Squirrel, Impala and Cheetah among others.
