Kasese farmers count losses as stray elephants invade farms

KASESE – Farmers in Kasese district are counting losses after stray elephants destroyed more than 20 acres of crops over the weekend.

The elephants which strayed from the nearby  Queen Elizabeth National Park destroyed acres of bananas, maize, and sweet potatoes in Kyalanga village, Karusandara, Sub-county in Kasese district.

Farmers said the attacks by stray elephants have worsened the food insecurity created by the poor harvests in the recent seasons.

Aziz Mugisha who is one of the affected farmers said the animals destroyed his four acres of sweet potatoes and beans which were almost ready for harvesting.

He said the problem of elephants invading their gardens has been rampant in recent years, bringing about poor harvests.

“We spend sleepless nights guarding our gardens at the risk of being attacked by animals. Most of the farmers in this area have been forced to harvest their crops prematurely due to persistent invasion by stray animals,” he said.

Margret Tuhaise who was also affected blamed Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] for failing to respond in time, which he said could have helped to minimise crop losses.

The Kasese district  LCV chairperson Ham Nayweta was concerned by UWA’s inability to effectively man the park’s boundaries, as animals have continued to raid people’s gardens.

He said: “As a district, we shall make a comprehensive report that will be shared with relevant authorities for action.”

The UWA spokesperson, Bashir Hangi, said over the years, farmers neighbouring Queen Elizabeth National Park have had the challenge of elephants escaping from the park to eat their crops.

“When such incidents occur, we go there and relate with the affected communities because it is important for communities to co-exist with the park,” he said.

He noted that the new law has provisions for compensating people who lose properties as a result of attacks by stray wild animals.

In order to prevent continuous attacks from wild animals, UWA has constructed an electric fence around Queen Elizabeth National Park.

“We have so far constructed 10 kilometres and we shall continue constructing fences in hot spots,” Hangi said.

In November last year, stray elephants numbering at least 100 reportedly destroyed 1,000 acres of crops in four villages in Kitgum district. The most affected villages included Masaka, Orabul, Oryebo, and Odilang in Namokora Sub-county.

https://thecooperator.news/loss-as-stray-elephants-ravage-kitgum-villages/

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