The Uganda Wildlife Authority and Bududa District authorities have signed a memorandum of understanding to start a joint management of Mt Elgon National park land.

According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU), a copy Daily Monitor has seen, UWA will work with communities near the park to conserve the environment.

The agreement states that UWA will provide tree seedlings to residents. Speaking during the signing of the MoU in Bududa last week, the UWA Executive Director, Mr Moses Mapesa urged residents to plant trees to stop landslides and desertification.

"The people who neighbour the park must come on board to help in management, restoration and protection of the national park," he said.

This comes shortly after the partner states of the East African Community identified Mt Elgon, which straddles the border of Uganda and Kenya as a trans boundary eco-system that needs to be managed through a regional programme to protect it from encroachment and degradation.