The
plight of the Basongora
The Basongora are a pastoralist
community that has lived a nomadic lifestyle for
generations. They were the traditional inhabitants of the
lowlands of the Kasese district until the Rwenzururu
rebellion of the 1950s led to their displacement. They were
almost totally evicted from their remaining pastures when
the Queen Elizabeth national park was created. They
are now competing with their neighboring ethnic groups who
are mainly cultivators, and have no alternative livelihoods.
These endless tribal conflicts often lead to deaths.
Furthermore there is tension between the Basongora and the
government due to their denied access to
Queen Elisabeth park for
grazing. This came out in the open during my visit when they
suddenly broke up from their virtual detention camp on the
outskirts (see
picture 002) and scattered
all over the park as you can see on my photos - sleeping in
the open among elephants and lions demonstrating both a
sudden nomadic sense of freedom as well as their actual
homelessness. Again we are here faced with the question of
environmental racism vs. human racism
....and the interests of us affluent tourists and the
remaining wild animals we want to preserve.
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