DERICK  AMPEREZA

Following the misunderstandings   between the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA and residents of Bwambara sub-county in Rukungiri district over the use of a 1.5km road locally known as Ashatu na munaana, the office of the Rukungiri resident district commissioner has intervened to resolve the issue and bring sanity between two parties.

The residents had threatened to stage a four-day strike accusing the UWA officials of blocking their feeder road.

The road through Queen Elizabeth National Park, connects Bwambara sub-county to The kihihi-Kasese road in Kihihi sub-county in Kanungu district.  It is the shortest route that connects Bwambara and Kihihi, according to locals and leaders.

Chris Kangayano the Bwambara sub-county chairperson, says that they have been using the road for more than three decades and they were surprised when UWA blocked it without sufficient reason   

Residents says that this Ashatu ana munaana road is convenient for the transportation of agricultural produce to Kihihi sub-county, the Uganda-DRC border of Ishaha in Kanungu district and to Kasese district in addition to helping learners to cross from Bwambara to Kihihi for studies. 

Now farmers are struggling to transport onions and rice to markets in Kanungu and Kasese districts because of the road closure.

The Rukungiri deputy RDC Wilberforce Ahibisibwe Ongom asked Bwambara leaders to sensitize the residents to always seek for permission before accesing the park because it’s a gazette wildlife area

He noted that UWA officials had accepted that the contested road serves only as a footpath and for motorcycles but not cars.

 Bwire Isaiah an official from Uganda Wildlife authority said   roads are not encouraged in the park for the safety of the users but he agreed with the residents that the contested feeder road will be maintained for them but strictly for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

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