Leaders accuse UWA staff for soliciting bribes from neighbors in exchange for park land.

 

By Weswa Ronnie  

Leaders from Bugisu region have accused Uganda wildlife authority staff members of always soliciting bribes from locals neighboring Mt Elgon national park to offer theme park land for cultivation.

This follows the slashing of people’s crops like maize, Irish potatoes; onions among other neighboring Mt Elgon national park at Masaba Sub County in Sironko district as UWA accuse them for encroaching on park land.

While speaking to media over the weekend John Musila Mp representing Bubulo east constituency in Namisindwa district  says that they his people from sub counties neighboring Mt Elgon Elgon national park like Bukokho, Bumbo among other give UWA staff shillings ranging to 50,000/= to 500,000/= to offer them space  in the park for cultivation and logs for cutting timbers.

He adds that it’s bad for them to change and destroy their crops yet they have eaten their money and have agreed.

Musila urged UWA leaders to start punishing their own staff before cutting people's crops who are innocent.

Stephen Wabugo the LCIII chairperson of Masaba Sub County and Alie Madoi the Buyobo sub county district councilor in Sironko district says that they have photos as UWA staffs are exchanging goats and other animals with local people in the exchange with park land for cultivation.

They add that UWA officers should know that people don’t just encroach on the park but they are allowed by their staff after giving them a bribe.  

Allen Nambozo the laicization office at UWA Mt Elgon national park says that according to the laws the giver and receiver are held accountable for corruption.

He urged people neighboring the park to stop giving anything to any UWA staff to get land for cultivation in the park because it’s illegal and their crops will be destroyed.