A Community’s Fight For Justice, Empowering The Benet Minority Group.
The Benet Community, an internally displaced group, has faced a prolonged struggle following the establishment of Mount Elgon National Park in 1992, which left many without land or permanent settlement. Over the years, this community has endured numerous challenges, including disputes with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers that led to fatalities and the destruction of crops. In 2023, KACSOA identified and established two Topowa Forum and two Ekyooto (Fireplace) forums that have significantly empowered the Benet Community to deliberate on their issues and reclaim their rights.
One of the community’s remarkable achievements has been the establishment of a community school, which marks a significant step towards securing the government’s recognition of their right to education. The community does not have any government-aided schools.
Through persistent advocacy efforts, the Benet Community was also included in the recently concluded Housing and Population Census, representing a milestone in their quest to be recognized as part of Uganda’s diverse cultural fabric.
Following the destruction of their crops by the UWA, in August 2024, the community has been able to push the government to establish a verification committee to establish grievances from human rights abuses to the destruction of crops. It is this unsettled group which in 2010 was put in a temporal resettlement area in Tuikat sub-county of Kween district. Before the government finds a lasting solution, the UWA rangers have meted untold suffering to these people. They would wait until their maize and other crops were about to ripen, they would come and slash, claiming it was on protected land. Cows are often confiscated by the rangers driving them into the park area and asking for hefty fines and bribes. Many other human rights violations have happened including shooting to kill when found in the park even on designated days for collecting firewood. Between last year and this year, two young boys who had gone for firewood were shot dead. The government on the other hand has been procrastinating on permanently resettling this community and totally failed to address the wanton human rights violations.
SCENE continues to engage UWA and the various duty bearers to find a lasting solution for the Benet community.
