Cattle keepers invade Pian Upe game reserve for grazing

Nakapiripirit, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Wildlife Authority is concerned about the influx of cattle into the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. It says the presence of livestock in the reserve frustrates tourism activities.

Pian Upe located in Nakapiripirit district borders about 8 other districts stretching from Amudat, Moroto, Katakwi, Napak, Kween, Kumi, Bukedea, and Bulambuli making it the second largest conservation area after Murchison Falls National Park.

The game reserve is surrounded by the majorly two major pastoral communities of Karamoja and Pokot. It is now common to have livestock grazing in it.

The grazing of cattle in the reserve has escalated the human and wildlife conflict. The interface between wildlife and livestock comes with the risk of transmission of deadly zoonotic diseases.

James Okware, the Chief Warden at Pian Upe game reserve said that the cows invaded the game reserve from the areas of Amudat, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, and Napak districts.

Okware also noted that some of their containment areas around Mt Napak have been encroached causing conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Okware reiterated that they are now struggling to attract tourists to the game reserve and the human-wildlife conflict is on the rise in the surrounding communities.

Okware noted that tourists have always demanded back their money when they find livestock grazing inside the park instead of wild animals.

Okware highlighted that there has been rampant illegal poaching in the districts of Nakapiripirit, Bulambuli, and Kween. He added that they have arrested several people carrying wild meat in bags and taking it outside Karamoja.

Okware appealed to the district security committees to support the Protection of the game park as a venue for developing the region.

However, the local leaders of Karamoja and Sebei who are surrounding the game reserve faulted the UWA for failing to conduct dialogues with the communities to make them understand the importance of the game reserve.

Joseph Lobot, the LC5 Chairperson of Amudat District said that there is a need to advocate for the holistic approach of conserving the wildlife where everyone will be involved.

Lobot noted that conservation is a responsibility of everyone and the excessive force subjected to the community may make them lose ownership. He said that conservation requires community structures to help to protect the game reserve.

He said that there is always a budget for community sensitization and mobilization which have not been implemented yet more awareness creation is needed.

He said that it is very hard to convince people to embrace something they do not see value.

Lobot also raised a concern about the community school in the Amudat district that UWA later gazetted under the game reserve and people were evicted.

Lobot  said that the UWA promised to construct a new classroom outside the game reserve but all in vain.

He said that there is a need for dialogue so that they can create grazing corridors for pastoralists and sensitize them to understand the importance of the game reserve.

Kenneth Chemonges Toyen, a resident of the Kween district said that blamed the Uganda Wildlife Authorities for slashing the people’s crops in the gardens.

Toyen noted that crops such as maize, Irish potatoes, and beans were uprooted by the security forces who are protecting the game reserve.

Toyen said that people have been shot dead by the game rangers and nothing is being done on compensation.

Toyen wondered why the government could not engage the community to find better solutions to address the boundary issues rather than using excessive force to evict people.

He also said that besides being tormented by wildlife management, the wild animals have also continued terrorizing people by killing and destroying crops.

Ivan James Namoma, the Bukwo Deputy Resident District Commissioner shared the same frustration stating that several people have been killed by the game rangers.

Namoma observed that the killing of innocent people around the game reserve is posing a security threat and tarnishes the image of the government. He said that the affected people have been flocking into his office demanding compensation.

He said there is a need to conduct community dialogues with the community surrounding the game park to find a permanent solution to end the conflict of wildlife.

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