UGANDA, Hoima | Real Muloodi News | Uganda’s Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Mr Tom Butime, has dismissed claims that the State House is involved in community land-grabbing cases on the shores of Lake Albert in Hoima District.
Responding to community concerns that land grabbers claim links with the State House, Mr Butime clarified that the State House cannot be involved in seizing land from the communities.
Mr. Butime acknowledged the possibility that some individuals might use the State House’s name to intimidate and grab land from the local communities.
The communities of Mbegu, Toonya, and Rwentale parishes are dealing with more than 20 land titles, each covering significant portions of land.
Residents have petitioned Mr. Butime’s office, seeking his intervention. They highlighted that cultural sites, including the tomb of the Omutembuzi King (Omukama) Waraga Rugambanabato and Wamara Springs around the Kiryamboga area, have been surveyed, and land titles acquired fraudulently by unknown individuals.
Minister Butime emphasised the importance of wildlife and environmental conservation for the benefit of future generations.
He pointed out the government’s commitment to conservation, especially due to the economic benefits derived from tourism.
He mentioned ongoing efforts to ensure wildlife protection during oil exploration and production in Murchison Falls National Park.
“We get over a billion shillings through tourism. So, we need to know how we use our community wildlife areas as recommended,” the minister stated.
Mr Geoffrey Komakech, the Hoima District Councillor for Buseruka Sub-county, informed the minister that residents are denied opportunities to settle in communal wildlife areas.
Instead, they occupy areas protected by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which leads to conflicts with wildlife.
Mr Komakech reported that through community and leadership efforts, 19 fraudulently acquired land titles had been recently cancelled.
These titles had been obtained by bypassing the Area Land Committees. He noted that even the sub-county area land committees and the District Land Board were unaware of the process, with grabbers allegedly forging stamps and signatures of local leaders.
Mr. Joseph Karugaba Isimbwa Apuuli, reading a memorandum on behalf of the communities, urged the minister to inform the President about the increasing threat of land grabbers in the Lake Albert communities in Hoima District.
He mentioned that most land grabbers claim connections with the State House. Additionally, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has restricted community access to wildlife areas where residents used to collect firewood and construction poles.
Mr Karugaba highlighted that seven outstanding land titles are currently threatening to evict hundreds of residents.
He also mentioned that victims of land evictions from the Kapaapi sub-county attended the meeting and called for investigations into the involvement of military and police officers in these evictions.
Mr Henry Kataliibwa, a resident of Toonya A village, complained about the increasing human-wildlife conflict, noting that at least two people have been killed and another injured by a crocodile within the past year.
He urged the government to balance the rights of citizens with the need for wildlife conservation.
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