By KT Reporter
As Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections, parliamentary aspirants from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the Sebei sub-region have vowed to prioritize the long-standing land conflict between the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and local communities living along the Mt. Elgon National Park.
The decades-old dispute—rooted in government evictions without resettlement—has affected thousands in the districts of Bukwo, Kween, and Kapchorwa, particularly the Benet community, who were forcibly removed from the forest reserve following its gazettement in 1993. Alex Chelimo Aringbwa, an MP aspirant for Kapchorwa Municipality, stressed the need for proactive, united leadership to resolve the dispute.
“The boundary issue affects the entire Sebei sub-region. As a leader, I cannot stay silent. This is not just about Kapchorwa; it’s a Sebei issue,” Aringbwa said. Lydia Chekwel, who is seeking a return to Parliament as Woman MP for Kween, echoed the call for action, expressing frustration over past inaction.
“Many MPs abandon their manifestos once elected. I was once a victim of this unresolved issue. It takes consistent, united voices in Parliament to move this forward,” Chekwel stated. Bukwo Woman MP Everlyne Chemutai attributed the lack of progress to poor coordination among Sebei’s current nine MPs.
“Some MPs raise the issue, but others remain silent. We need legislators who will work together if we are to make headway,” she said. Soi County MP Fadil Kisos Chemaswet urged fellow lawmakers to transcend constituency boundaries for the greater good of the region.
“We are all Sebei MPs. Unity in Parliament is paramount if we are to address the UWA issue effectively,” Chemaswet emphasized. Patrick Silomo Kitiyo, also contesting for the Kapchorwa Municipality seat, underscored the need to revisit and follow up on past government commitments.
“Implementation of previous directives is key. We must demand accountability,” said Kitiyo, a lawyer by profession. Local opinion leader Alex Bosco Chericha accused politicians of only speaking up when the issue trends on social media. “This conflict is like a curse that leaders are afraid to confront. Politics in Sebei is responsible for many of our hardships,” Chericha charged.
The UWA-community standoff traces back to 1993, when hundreds of Benet—also known as the Ndorobo—were evicted from Mt. Elgon after the forest was declared a national park. In 2008, another 178 families were forcefully removed from the parkland in Bukwo and Kween districts. Many of these families still live in temporary resettlement camps like Kapsegek, Teryet, Yatui, and Lwanda—without electricity, clean water, or permanent shelter. Their lack of secure land tenure affects their ability to farm and access services such as education and healthcare.
In 2004, the Uganda Land Alliance sued UWA on behalf of the Benet. A 2005 consent judgment by the High Court recognized the Benet as the forest’s indigenous inhabitants and called on the government to “redress the imbalance.” Two decades later, that ruling remains largely unimplemented. As campaigns heat up in Sebei, residents remain cautiously optimistic. Many hope that this new crop of aspirants will finally transform pledges into meaningful action, restoring dignity, land rights, and sustainable livelihoods for the displaced communities-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
