Locals’ row with UWA over Mt Elgon Park escalates

The wrangle between Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and communities living around Mt Elgon National Park has escalated, with locals accusing UWA of using disproportionate force to evict them and destroying their crops.

The area was gazetted as a national park in 1993 after previously being managed as a central forest reserve, but since then UWA rangers and locals have routinely clashed, resulting in injuries and sometimes death on either side.

Last week, a meeting between UWA officials and Bududa District leaders was held at the Bududa District Council Hall to discuss the concerns…