Wildlife Protection - Human Conflict
The Uganda Wildlife Authority on the 20th of July had to cut down banana plantations that were in the protected areas of Semuliki wildlife reserve sparking off a row between the residents of the Kabarole district sub-county residents of Hakibaale and the parishes of Kiijura, Kabende and Kituule. This was during the openning of the expansion of the borders of the wildlife game reserve. This was in line with a Uganda Wildlife Authority survey done in 2004 in which wildlife reserves were identified nation-wide. Over fourty nine families had already farmed Tooro-Semuliki wildlife reserve however they had not constructed any buildings in the reserve.
When asked by journalists the Kibaale Conservation Area Chief Warden, Mr. Charles Tumwesigye said the plantations where destroyed because the residents had defied a one ultimatum issued by the Uganda Wildlife Conservation authorities to the people that had encroached on the protected area which was issued in February 2007. Mr. Charles Tumwesigye said that the planting of crops without building houses was indication the people knew they were encroaching on protected land.
For a Semliki national park tour or Uganda national parks tour visit the Uganda safari company.