Rubanda District Governor Kasyaba Asks Batwa to Embrace Gov’t Programs.
Rubanda District LC.5 Chairman Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba
Rubanda District LC5 Chairperson Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba has today made a heartfelt gesture, by joining the Batwa community to bid farewell to the late Maruhe Edward, 90, in Rubanda West.
At the burial in Rwamahano Village, Ikamiro Parish, Muko sub-county, Kasyaba encouraged the Batwa to embrace Government’S poverty alleviation programs and NGOs designed to improve their livelihood. He particularly emphasized on the Parish Development Model-PDM which is the latest Government initiative to eliminate Poverty at household level.
Kasyaba also highlighted the importance of spiritual growth through baptism among the Batwa community.
The Rwaburindu Church of Uganda Lay reader Wilber Muyambi, echoed Kasyaba’s sentiments, highlighting the significance of baptism in a church.
Meanwhile, Local leaders, including Nkurunziza Ronald, Henry Nsabiyeremye, and Alex Ainembabazi, hailed Kasyaba for bridging the gap between the minority interests. They noted that previous leaders had only reached out to the Batwa community during election periods.
ABOUT THE BATWA
The Batwa, are an endangered group of people around Echuya Forest Reserve in Rubanda District of South-Western Uganda. The Echuya is located in the Albertine Rift region recognized as an important eco-region.
The Batwa believed to have migrated from the Ituri Forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo live in small huts mainly made from sticks and grass, and number 6,700 per a 2014 estimate by the Uganda Bureau of Satistics.
As their traditional forest lands and territories fell under the control of agro-industries and conservation agencies, the Batwa became squatters living on the edges of society.
The establishment of the Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks for Mountain Gorillas in 1991 enabled the authorities to evict the Batwa definitively from the forest. The Batwa in Uganda (today) experience numerous challenges, including Poverty that is partly blamed on marginalization and stigmatization from the neighboring communities.
