Tayebwa presses Tourism Minister to enforce halt on Mt Elgon evictions

By Our Reporter

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has urged the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Susan Nakawuki, to expedite the implementation of Parliament’s directive suspending Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) evictions around Mt Elgon National Park amid renewed concerns over alleged violence and disputed boundaries.

Tayebwa, who chaired the House on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, warned that delays in resolving the dispute could expose surrounding communities to further violence, noting that complaints over the park boundaries continue to emerge from the region.

“If you could sort out the boundaries of Mt Elgon National Park, that will be a great achievement for this ministry; it has been a burning issue. I can tell you every month, we have issues related to Mt Elgon National Park boundaries,” Tayebwa said.

His remarks followed concerns raised by Bungokho North Member of Parliament, Hon. Shafiga Wanyenya, who told Parliament that UWA operations had allegedly continued despite a directive issued by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth on October 15, 2026, ordering a halt to the evictions.

Speaker Oboth issued the directive after area legislators reported unrest, loss of lives and destruction of property linked to long-standing disputes over the boundaries separating Mt Elgon National Park from neighbouring communities.

Wanyenya said the directive had not been respected, alleging that four people had been shot in Wanale Sub-county since the order was issued, leaving one person dead and three others injured.

“I ask the minister to establish the circumstances surrounding the death in Wanale Sub-county,” Wanyenya said.

She added that tensions between communities living around Mt Elgon and UWA had persisted for years, with Wanale among the areas most affected by the boundary disputes.

The legislator’s concerns renewed calls for the government to intervene, investigate the reported shooting and establish clear boundaries to prevent further confrontations between residents and wildlife authorities.

In response, Minister Nakawuki told Parliament that the ministry had engaged several stakeholders, including the Prime Minister, who was expected to consult the President on the matter.

Nakawuki said the government was seeking guidance to suspend UWA operations for one month to allow the relevant authorities to address the boundary dispute.

“The Prime Minister is going to engage the President on the matter to guide UWA to halt any operations for one month until we complete the matter,” Nakawuki said.

She explained that the proposed period would allow the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to work with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to establish the boundaries and engage affected communities.

“We just need this one month to work out things with the Ministry of Lands, which is supposed to mark stones and then engage the local community on where the boundaries are,” she added.

The proposed process is intended to clarify the park’s boundaries through the placement of boundary markers and consultations with residents whose land and livelihoods may be affected.

The Mt Elgon National Park boundary dispute has remained a recurring concern for communities living near the protected area, where conservation enforcement has at times brought residents into conflict with wildlife authorities.

The latest concerns place renewed pressure on the government to ensure that Parliament’s directive is implemented while addressing the reported incidents of violence and establishing the facts surrounding the death in Wanale Sub-county.

Tayebwa’s intervention underscores Parliament’s concern that the dispute requires urgent attention, clear communication with affected communities and coordinated action by the responsible ministries and UWA.

A lasting resolution will depend on establishing and communicating the park boundaries, investigating reported incidents and ensuring that any enforcement measures are conducted in accordance with the law and the rights of affected communities.