Fred Pizza, the Chief Warden of Mt. Elgon National Park which covers up to Karamoja region says that the deployment follows the increasing cases of Karimojong locals turning on killing wild animals.
The build-up to the election has been punctuated by repeated calls for peace during and after polling by political, security, religious, cultural and civil society leaders. This is after the campaigns which ended on Tuesday have been characterised by acts of violence and brutality by security personnel.
According to Pius Wakabi, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the reduction of oxygen levels in the waters of Lakes Victoria, Kyoga and River Nile were caused by heavy winds and decomposition of sunken plant matter in the waters which reduced oxygen.
Sarah Angolere, a mother of five children, who has benefiting from collecting the gum, says it is a very lucrative business and alternative source of livelihood for many women and men who could not afford to dig. "By now we could be harvesting the gum because this is the time but now all the trees that produce gum have been destroyed," she said.
Mr. Isaac Bwire the official from International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) however, said the rapid degradation of range land can be stopped if the districts of Karamoja can pass by-laws against environmental destruction in the region.
