The wild animals majorly elephants, Hippopotamus, crocodiles and Buffalos from Bugungu Wildlife Conservation Area stray into the community almost on a daily basis causing havoc to locals and garden crops.
Mugara says the regulations to guide compensation are in the final stages of development by the Ministry of Justice, adding that by the end of March next year the Act will be fully operational.
According to family sources, the hippopotamus injured the deceased when he went to fetch water from Lake Albert shores. The hippopotamus injured his right leg severely as it struggled to eat it off.
For more than four years, the residents have been losing crops and fruits to animals especially elephants straying from the Murchison Park with their numbers increasing every year.
The move follows a plea by State Minister for Mineral Development Sarah Opendi earlier in September, to the Parliamentary Commission to get rid of Marabou storks around the precincts of Parliament saying they pause a health threat to the MPs.
Kyomugisha says the project has changed the lives of Rubirizi residents as they are now able to pay fees for their children in private schools and universities. She says that they have also constructed social amenities such as health facilities, energy stoves and a hotel, which has brought windfall profits that they only dreamt of in the past.
Pontus Onzima, the Chief Warden Queen Elizabeth National park, says they have registered more cases of poaching compared to the period before the lock down. Over 60 poachers have been arrested between March and May compared to only 20 in February.
The elephants raided Rutooke and Busambu vilages in Muhokya sub county where they destroyed gardens of tomatoes, Cotton, maize, vanilla and banana plantations.
According to ASP Vincent Mwesige the Kasese Police Public Relations officer he told URN reporter that the suspects had planted over one hectare of cannabis.
Fred Muywa, the chairman LCI Loch-Kapkusawar village said that a few days ago, the Buffaloes also invaded the village and ate goats. He wants UWA to intervene in the matter to save people’s source of livelihood.
Arapdison Malinga, the Suam Sub County district councilor was picked by police shortly after the murder of Chepukuto Wilfred a police officer attached to Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU)
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, says incident happened on Sunday evening near Sebigoro landing site in Nkondo parish in Kabwoya Sub County in Kikuube district.
Last month 11 households of Te Ogelo village in Langele Parish Kich Lii Sub County accused UWA for extending the Murchison Falls National Park boundaries four kilometres into the community land.
The trenches stretch from Akuridia through Bombay, Apala A and Apala B villages, all in Juma and Zambia Parishes in Kamdini Sub County, a distance of 17 kilometres. Wilfred Chemutai, the UWA Karuma Sector Chief Warden is optimistic this would stop animals from crossing into the community because elephants and Buffaloes usually find it difficult to jump or cross trenches.
Wilfred Chemutai, the Karuma Sector UWA chief warden says the money is to facilitate the burial arrangements, pending other administrative decisions by the higher authorities regarding compensation as the per law
