The Batwa Indigenous People in Uganda and their Detachment from Forest Livehood: Land Eviction and Social Plight

Abstract

With an aim of examining consequences of eviction and restriction the Batwa’s access to Bwindi and Mgahinga protected areas, the paper reviews available literature on the Batwa indigenous people’s statuses, rights and socioeconomic livelihood especially following the 1991 Bwindi and Mgahinga eviction instrument. The review indicates that their eviction exemplified failure by the government to consult, compensate and involve the Batwa community as indigenous people before expropriation of their land. Secondly, the paramilitary nature of eviction disconnected them from their forest dweller lifestyle spontaneously without a clear resettlement plan or restitution agenda. The paper conclusively recommends for further research to evaluate the increasingly contentious competition between conservationism on one hand and upholding the appropriate property rights of indigenous people on the other.

Published online: 11 December 2017