By KT Reporter
Authorities in Lotisan Sub-county, Moroto District, have requested that wildlife-gazetted land be allocated to the community for cultivation. According to the leadership, all fertile land suitable for agriculture in the sub-county was gazetted under the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), leaving the community with dry, unproductive land.
Currently, the region has started receiving its first rains, paving the way for cultivation. However, locals have expressed concerns about the poor nature of the soil, which has often resulted in low harvests. John Robert Adupa, the LC3 chairperson of Lotisan Sub-county, noted that there is a lot of fertile land lying idle, and they want the UWA to release it to the community for food production.
Adupa stated that the land would be strictly for cultivation to address the challenge of food insecurity. He emphasized that the land was gazetted despite not falling under the wildlife conservation area. Adupa pointed out that the land, especially on the uphill, was once occupied by the community before UWA gazetted it.
He appealed to the government to de-gazette the land and return it to its rightful owners, who are currently squatting in other areas. He also revealed that partners have helped train the community in modern agricultural practices, but they lack land to apply what they have learned.
Adupa further called on the government to support them with tractors to open up land and ensure the timely delivery of planting seeds. He stressed that they are committed to ending food insecurity this year if their requests are considered.
Bashir Hangi, the Uganda Wildlife Authority spokesperson, noted that there is no vacant land for human settlement. Hangi observed that it is not possible to give some of the gazetted land to the community while simultaneously protecting it.
Hangi stated that all land is already under protection and cannot be given to the community unless the government de-gazettes it. He reiterated that the land was gazetted by the government and that UWA is only responsible for protecting it-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
