The state minister for tourism, Serapio Rukundo, has proposed the arrest of people encroaching on Mountain Elgon forest national park. He has asked the Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) to work together with the police in documenting evidence and collecting exhibits to enable prosecution of the encroachers. He added that this would hinder other people from encroaching on the park.
He emphasized that, encroachment was a threat to the tourism sector and climatic patterns and that areas surrounding the park are vital for sustainable social economic development. He spoke this on Thursday during a tour of the park in Bumbo sub-county in Manafwa district where several encroachers have set up illegal homesteads and gardens. While addressing government extension workers and district councilors at the district headquarters, Rukundo revealed that the park was established by an act of the parliament that provide for regulations for its conservation. He added that if people were not supportive of the existence of the park, they should instead appeal to their members of parliament and councilors to demand a reverse of the law. The minister said that, the homesteads of encroachers should be demolished and cultivation be stopped immediately or else they should be taken to court. The encroachment is said to have started last month, according to the words of Johnson Masereka, the park warden.