PYGMIES: ONE OF THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN UGANDA.

By Biira Naume
www.mknewslink.com
in kanungu
Kanungu district on Wednesday 5th September hosted the equal opportunities committee of parliament on a mission to
assess the living standards of the Batwa community also known as pygmies, one of the marginalized communities in Uganda.
Kanungu district has up to 841 Batwa with 415 males and 426 femalesorganized in 165 households.
Most of the Batwa have attained no or less education mainly because of limited number of peer examples, lack of awareness on the importance of education, alcoholism and domestic violence.
The team first visited Kisoro and Bundibugyo districts which also host the Batwa community
According to a report presented by the Kanungu chief administrative officer CAO Ntarwete Eliab, in 1991 when Mgahinga and Bwindi forests were gazette, the Batwa who were living in these forests were evicted and have ever since been re-settled in eleven settlements like Byumba,Kalangala, Buhoma, Bikuto, Kanyashande, Karehe, Kebiremu, Kihembe,
Kitahurira, Kitariro and Mukongoro all in Kanungu district.
The most of this land was bought by Kanungu local government, Kinkizi diocese and Bwindi Mgahinga conservation trust (BMCT).
Ntarwete has implored government to address the question of land ownership of the Batwa since they were resettled but it seems they do not have total ownership of the land where they resettled.
He also called for creation of a leadership position for the Batwa especially in areas where they come from for easy advocacy.
Grace Hellen Asamo-the chairperson of the equal opportunities committee also mp for PWDs eastern region appreciated the information given by the CAO saying this will make basis and enrich their
committee report.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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