By Emmanuel Olinga
Residents of Magoro Sub County in Katakwi District have petitioned Uganda’s Vice President, Rtd. Maj. Jessica Rose Alupo, over the long-standing dispute concerning Angisa land.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) claims the land as part of the Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve, but locals insist it is customary land that rightfully belongs to them.
Angisa, located in Magoro Sub County, borders Nabilatuk District to the east, Lake Opeta to the south, and the northern part of Katakwi District.
The area comprises 10 villages with approximately 541 households and a population of 2,918 people.
The residents trace their settlement in Angisa back to the 1950s, before Uganda gained independence.
However, due to insecurity, many fled to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in 1965.
The dispute over Angisa land has been ongoing for years, with repeated efforts to resolve the issue.
On August 21, 2021, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni responded to a letter from Vice President Alupo, written on July 28, 2021, during a cabinet meeting.
In his directive, the President instructed the Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Attorney General, and State Minister for Teso Affairs to consult the people of Katakwi on possible compensation for the land.
However, the residents have rejected the compensation proposal, emphasizing that the land is customary and should be returned to them instead.
They argue that government institutions, including UWA, should recognize their ancestral ownership rather than forcibly claiming the land.
During a public gathering, Katakwi District LCV Chairperson Geoffrey Omolo read out the petition on behalf of the residents.
The petition calls for President Museveni’s intervention and urges UWA to allow locals to continue living and working on their ancestral land.
The residents also demand unrestricted access to the land for farming and grazing purposes.
In addition to the land dispute, the petition highlights several pressing issues, including the need for: The repair and upgrade of the Angisa road, Construction of a community school to support education in the area and The procurement of the Kamenu Ferry to improve transport and trade.
Residents, including Patrick Eria Emongot and Stella Aguti, voiced concerns over past incidents where UWA allegedly used force against them.
They recounted instances where people were brutalized, homes were destroyed, and families were displaced from their land.
The two community leaders called upon the government to ensure a peaceful resolution to the dispute without further violence or displacement.
In response to the petition, Vice President Alupo assured the residents of her commitment to addressing their grievances.
She pledged to inform President Museveni about their concerns and facilitate a meeting between the President and 100 elders from Katakwi District to deliberate on the Angisa land issue.
Alupo also expressed support for the residents’ request to return to their land, emphasizing that allowing them to engage in agricultural activities is critical in combating food insecurity in the region.
She acknowledged that the residents depend on the land for their livelihoods and promised to push for a fair and lasting solution.
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