Summary:
Vice President Alupo assured the residents that she would inform President Museveni of their grievances.
KATAKWI: Residents of Magoro Sub County in Katakwi District have petitioned Vice President Rtd. Maj. Jessica Rose Alupo over the disputed Angisa Land, which the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) claims as part of the Pian-Upe Game Reserve.
Angisa, located in Magoro Sub County, borders Nabilatuk District to the east, Lake Opeta to the south, and Magoro in the northern part of Katakwi District. It consists of 10 villages, 541 households, and a population of approximately 2,918 people.
The community existed before Uganda’s independence in the 1950s but was displaced in 1965 due to insecurity, forcing residents into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
On August 21, 2021, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni responded to a letter from Vice President Alupo, dated July 28, 2021, regarding unresolved land issues. In his directive, the President tasked the Prime Minister, the Minister of Tourism, the Attorney General, and the State Minister for Teso Affairs with consulting the people of Katakwi and exploring compensation options.
However, the local residents strongly oppose compensation, insisting that Angisa is customary land and should be returned to them rather than being compensated for its loss.
Geoffrey Omolo, the Katakwi LCV Chairperson, read the petition on behalf of the LC III of Magoro Sub County. The petition urges President Museveni to intervene and instruct UWA to allow the residents to live on their customary land.
Additionally, the residents requested the government to free up restricted land for farming and grazing.
Other key concerns raised in the petition include the need for road repairs in Angisa, the construction of a community school, and the acquisition of the Kamenu Ferry to improve transportation.
Residents Patrick Eria Emongot and Stella Aguti appealed for a peaceful resolution to the dispute, expressing concerns over past incidents in which UWA allegedly used excessive force, including beating residents, destroying homesteads, and forcibly displacing people.
The petition calls for an amicable resolution, beginning with engaging 100 local elders in discussions to establish the historical background of the land and address key concerns.
In response, Vice President Alupo assured the residents that she would inform President Museveni of their grievances. She also committed to arranging a meeting between the President and 100 elders from Katakwi to discuss the Angisa land dispute.
Alupo emphasized the importance of allowing residents to return to their land for commercial farming, highlighting the need to combat food insecurity in the region.
