KABAROLE – Residents of Kasenda Sub-county in Kabarole district have decried the persistent invasion of wild animals from Kibale National Park.
The most affected parishes are Isunga, Nyabweya and Burambira, all neighbouring the park.
According to residents, animals, especially elephants, baboons, and monkeys stray from the park into their crop gardens destroying crops like millet, ground nuts, maize, beans, and cassava among others.
Ruta Gideon, a male councilor representing Kasenda Sub-county said farmers have abandoned their gardens for fear of their lives.
“Due to continued destruction of crops by stray elephants and other animals, farmers have suffered losses and they have been depending on their crops as their only source of livelihood. Some farmers fear going to their gardens because of elephants, Ruta said.
He appealed to Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] to compensate farmers who have lost their crops to animals and also forge a solution to the problem.
The Kabarole district chairperson LCV, Richard Rwabuhinga appealed to residents to be calm, saying that the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities was informed about their plight and that very soon action will be taken.
“Human-wildlife conflict is very serious in the country but the ministry is working with UWA and other partners to ensure that they do something to reduce the invasion of stray animals in people’s gardens,” he said.
Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kabarole district, 22km south of Fort Portal town.
https://thecooperator.news/kasese-farmers-count-losses-as-stray-elephants-invade-farms/
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