KAS-Kacsoa; Community Policing tops Agenda on Ending Human Rights Violations in Kween

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and Kapchorwa Civil Society Organizations’ Alliance (KACSOA) have called for an end to human rights violations within and beyond the district. This was revealed during a one day dialogue on “Human Rights – Our Concern” at Kween district headquarters on Monday, 16 September 2024.

Speaking on behalf of the Kween district chairperson, Willy Chesilyong highlighted the human rights concerns ranging from domestic violence now affecting both men and women, FGM, unlawful evictions and destruction of crops by UWA rangers on top of the unending conflicts between UWA and local communities that has led to loss of lives of both humans and animals.

The Kween CAO Albina Awor appreciated the kind gesture of KAS and KACSOA for creating a platform to end the human rights abuses in Kween especially over boundary issues along Mt. Elgon National Park. She advocated for co-existence between UWA and the host communities to strike a balance.

This follows reports of hostilities and gross abuse of human rights between UWA and host communities over boundaries. This according to David Mande, an activist from Kween district has been ongoing for years yet nothing has been done about it. He says people living around Mt Elgon National Park continue to suffer from gross human rights violations at the hands of the Uganda Wildlife Authority staff.

“In 2006, a lady, Rachael was raped by an UWA ranger and since then, justice has not been served yet this is still ongoing. People have been killed with the latest being a 12 year Joshua Sukuku, crops destroyed and animals shot and all UWA does is to transfer the culprits to other stations before they are brought to book” he said.

In response, Nicholas Musika, the Chief Warden of Kween Conversation Area of Mt Elgon National Park denied the allegations saying their officers have also been killed and others injured with the most recent hospitalized. On rape and defilement, he says he has not received any complaints since he was posted to Kween and most of the accusations are hearsays with no evidence.

On the destruction of crops, Musika said they only cut crops inside the park. On extortion by UWA rangers, he says the system has been digitalized and the money usually for captured animals is paid through court and the animals are only released after you present a mobile money code.

According to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kween, Hope Atuhaire, a committee that has been formed to settle the dispute but is yet to commence the process. She says her office has received several complaints from the host communities and has called for calm and coexistence.

She further directed that there will be no more destroying of crops and killings until the committee does it’s work on resolving boundary disputes between the locals and UWA.

James Okurut, LCV Butebo district on behalf of KAS asked UWA to consider people’s rights and avoid violations but rather engage in community policing and sensitization with host communities.

Mount Elgon National Park was initially established as a forest reserve in 1938 and later upgraded to a national park in 1993. It spans across Mbale, Namisindwa, Kapchorwa, Kween, Sironko, Bukwo, and Bududa districts. In 1983, a section of the park measuring 7,500 hectares was reallocated to the Benet community as a temporary settlement area.