Agago is sad
NATIONAL AFFAIRS & LEGISLATIVE WATCH • SPECIAL REPORT
“IF IT CONTINUES THIS WAY, I DON’T KNOW WHERE OUR PEOPLE WILL GO”: MP OTTO EDWARD MAKMOT PLEADS FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR AGAGO
In an impassioned appeal to the UWA Executive Director, Agago County lawmaker outlines severe human-wildlife conflict, systemic marginalization, and endless delays in compensating victims of wild animal attacks.
PARLIAMENT HILL / KIDEPO REGION
CATEGORY: LEGISLATIVE & WILDLIFE
CATEGORY: LEGISLATIVE & WILDLIFE
In an extraordinary and emotional address to the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Hon. Otto Edward Makmot, Member of Parliament for Agago County, issued a ringing call for urgent state intervention, warning that extreme poverty, neglect, and unresolved human-wildlife conflicts are pushing the people of Agago to the absolute brink.
Highlighting the compounding crises of local boundary disputes, non-existent tourism infrastructure, and complex legal barriers that prevent grieving families from accessing compensation, MP Makmot declared that Agago can no longer remain a forgotten buffer zone between national parks and regional centers.
“For us in Agago, I always say, we are badly off. When people think of sympathy, Karamoja comes into place, and they bypass us… We have all the problems of Karamoja, the problems of Kidepo, the problems of Katuranso. We have all the problems… If it continues this way, I don’t know where our people will go. Please help us.”
— Hon. Otto Edward Makmot, MP Agago County
• Key Takeaways from the Agago Parliamentary Address
- Uncompensated Tragedies: Fatal human-wildlife encounters dating back years (including a notable 2019 fatal buffalo attack in Agboa) remain unresolved, leaving traumatized families without financial relief.
- Barriers to Justice: Wildlife courts situated far away in Nakasero (Kampala) block rural victims from seeking legal remedy. MP Makmot called for dedicated UWA legal officers stationed directly at local Magistrates’ courts in Patongo.
- Affirmative Action & Infrastructure: Agago demands inclusion in the national Tourism Road Infrastructure budget—specifically requesting the upgrade of the historic Moroto/Sikindi route to link local communities directly to Kidepo Valley National Park and Kidepo International Airport.
- Ring-Fenced Compensation Fund: UWA was urged to establish a dedicated, ring-fenced fund for rapid payout, avoiding complex probate procedures (like Letters of Administration) for small human-wildlife claims.
- Growing Boundary Distrust: Escalating boundary mistrust between Agago and Abim districts—fueled by moving markers and land-grabbing suspicions—requires immediate joint boundary opening to restore local stability.
1. Justice & Legal Access: “Laws Are Not Written on the Sofa”
Addressing UWA leadership as a legal practitioner, MP Makmot strongly criticized the centralization of wildlife judicial systems in Kampala, noting that the distance creates an impassable barrier for poor rural claimants.
Rural Claimants / Victims → [ Distant Nakasero Courts / High Legal Fees ] → Barred from Justice
⇣ PROPOSED LOCAL SOLUTION ⇣
Deploy UWA Legal Officers to Patongo Court → Implement Simplified Small Claims Probate
Makmot argued that expecting rural villagers to secure Letters of Administration for small financial claims is unrealistic. He urged UWA to benchmark against mobile cash distribution systems like the SAGE program or small claims court procedures, while deploying UWA legal officers directly to local courts in Patongo to assist victims.
2. Deepening Poverty & Human-Wildlife Conflict
The lawmaker stressed that human-wildlife conflict cannot be addressed through sporadic, short-term reactions. “Today, animals have killed people, we are happy now [reacting]. Tomorrow, it is hunger, and we forget about it,” Makmot stated, connecting unresolved wildlife destruction directly to local poverty and rising crime rates.
He cited the unverified case of a woman killed by stray buffaloes in Agboa around 2019, whose family continues to ask for official compensation years later. To solve this, he urged UWA to assign dedicated focal persons equipped with motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles to respond to threats immediately rather than waiting for public outcry.
3. Economic Integration: Tourism Roads & Revenue Sharing
Despite bearing the burden of stray wildlife, Agago remains financially isolated from the revenue generated by Kidepo Valley National Park. MP Makmot called for immediate inclusion in parliament’s tourism infrastructure allocations.
| Area of Development | Current Status | Proposed Action |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism Infrastructure | Bypassed by main routes; poor road network (e.g., Kamorono & Sikindi roads). | Include Agago’s Sikindi & Moroto roads in the Parliamentary Tourism Road Fund budget. |
| Park Revenue Sharing | Agago communities receive minimal to zero financial return. | Establish a ring-fenced compensation fund or include Agago in revenue-sharing models. |
| Local Economic Hubs | Park entrance faces away from Agago, leaving it as an unused “backdoor.” | Create an entrance gate via Agago/Moroto road, build lodges, and connect local youth to jobs at Kidepo International Airport. |
4. Boundary Disputes & Regional Distrust
Rising boundary friction between Abim and Agago districts was also brought to the forefront. MP Makmot cautioned UWA that shifting boundary markers, whether caused by land grabbers, local conflict, or administrative oversight, are stoking deep mistrust among community members.
He echoed the Speaker of Parliament’s past directives, requesting an immediate, transparent, joint boundary-opening exercise along traditional river markers to permanently settle land encroachment fears.
Immediate Action Plan Demanded by Agago Leadership:
- Immediate Verification: Audit and resolve outstanding casualty and destruction claims in Agboa and surrounding areas.
- Clear Timelines: Request UWA leadership to commit to clear implementation deadlines for local fencing and compensation disbursements.
- Media & Sensitization: Utilize regional radio stations for ongoing community early-warning broadcasts and wildlife boundary education.
