KIRYANDONGO, September 16, 2026 — Residents of several villages in Kicwabugingo, Kyankende and Kigumba sub-counties in Kiryandongo district have appealed to government to compel the Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] to construct a live fence to prevent elephants from Murchison Falls National Park from destroying their crops.
Farmers in the affected sub-counties say they are grappling with the devastating consequences of human-wildlife conflict, as elephants continue to destroy their maize, bananas and other crops.
They said their villages have experienced elephant incursions for eight consecutive farming seasons, despite promises by UWA to construct an electric fence dating back to 2021.
The residents said the repeated destruction of their crops has forced them to buy food from markets because they can no longer rely on their farms for sustenance.
The situation has left farmers frustrated and helpless.
“We’ve cried out for help from local leaders, UWA and the central government, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said Iddi Wabudeya Mustafa, the Kiryandongo District Vice-Chairperson, on Tuesday at Mpumwe Health Centre II.
Wabudeya was speaking during a recent meeting organised by Jovia Katusiime, the Kiryandongo District Woman Member of Parliament, who is touring health centres across the district to understand the challenges affecting her constituents in the health sector.
According to Wabudeya, the elephants have also not spared government facilities, including Mpumwe Health Centre II, where they reportedly destroyed the facility’s fence.
“We are no longer having food because elephants come season after season and destroy everything. We are headed for serious food insecurity,” he said, adding that residents had complained to several authorities without receiving a lasting solution.
He also said the elephants were accompanied by black flies, which he described as a serious danger to residents.
Wabudeya further alleged that residents do not benefit from the revenue-sharing funds provided by UWA to the district, claiming that the money is “eaten by a small group of civil servants at the sub-county level”.
Atandwa Alex, the LCI Chairperson of Hangamakweri in Kicwabugingo Subcounty, said educating their children had become a major challenge because many families could no longer afford school fees.
“Our lives are also always at risk because if we try to drive these elephants from the gardens, they become very rowdy. Some people have died while attempting to drive away the elephants from the gardens whenever they invade,” Atandwa said, adding that elephants appeared to be valued more than human lives.
He further said crime and insecurity were increasing as some residents resorted to theft to survive.
Aineya Ozunga, the LCII Vice-Chairperson of Chopelwo parish, said the elephants often moved in large numbers, putting residents’ lives at risk.
Godfrey Kumakech, the LCIII Chairperson of Kicwabugingo Subcounty, said residents sometimes spent up to two days trying to drive the elephants away from their gardens.
He also expressed concern about the distance of UWA ranger outposts from the affected communities, saying rangers sometimes took too long to respond when called for help.
Responding to allegations of misuse of the revenue-sharing funds, Kiryandongo Chief Administrative Officer Anselem Kyaligonza said the officials involved had been arrested by the Inspectorate of Government, interdicted and were currently repaying the money.
https://thecooperator.news/elephants-destroy-crops-as-they-wreak-havoc-in-kiryandongo-district/
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