Manafwa — Hopes for an agreement between the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA) and Mt Elgon National Park residents, has hit a snag after a new boundary dispute erupted.

Daily Monitor has learnt that whereas the government allowed the encroachers to stay within the 1993 park boundary, with some part of the park given to them for farming and settlement, the encroachers have opened more fresh land for settlements and cultivation.

Encroachers face arrest

Mt Elgon National Park warden, Adonia Bintorwa, who has been leading the campaign to negotiate with the encroachers about possible re-location to areas outside the park, says the recent encroachment is becoming a hindrance to an amicable settlement.

"Trespassers who are within 1993 boundary should not go beyond it and those who have gone beyond the boundary should come out with immediate effect or face arrest and prosecution for trespass," Mr Bintorwa said last week.

Encroachers not moving

The encroachers led by their chairperson, Mr Stephen Walukano, say they have been living in the park before European intrusion and that when UWA started the park in 1993, they were already staying there.

"We have nowhere to go, this is our cradle land, our grandparents have been buried here," Mr Walukano said.

"Even if we lose the case in court to regain our land taken over by Mt Elgon National Park, we shall use all means available to re-occupy it," he added in an interview with Daily Monitor.

The residents near the Park have been attacking Park officials who have sometimes responded with gunfire.