Onee went to collect firewood in the nearby bush when she was attacked by the stray elephant that is suspected to have escaped from the Murchison Falls National Park.
Uganda Radio Network (URN) has learned that 46.5 kilometers of fencing have been completed in Nwoya, 10 kilometers in Buliisa, with 22 kilometers still pending installation in the same district. Additionally, Masindi will have 10 kilometers fenced, while Kiryandongo has been allocated 28 kilometers.
Dr. James Musinguzi, the Director Community Conservation and Ex-situ services, says these strategies are expected to address key challenges such as human-wildlife conflict, poaching, habitat destruction, and the loss of endangered species, particularly in wildlife-rich regions such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Pontius Ezuma, the Chief Warden for the Queen Elizabeth conservation area says they started the initiative after their findings indicating that most water-stressed communities neighbouring the park are sharing water sources with wild animals putting community lives at risk.
This follows numerous complaints filed by residents of Buliisa district settling adjacent to the National Park against the invasion of wild animals including elephants, Baboons, and Buffaloes into the community to cause havoc.
The birds were impounded at Bunagana in April 2022 and have been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation to ensure they can survive when returned to the wild.
T LC 1 Chairperson said that they were alerted by the alarm made by the victim but by the time residents mobilized themselves to repulse the animal, he had already died.
In their petition dated August 17, 2022 addressed to UWA, the residents contend that they are being raided by wild animals like elephants and Buffaloes which destroy their crops and cause injuries to the community members.
Sam John Mwandha, the executive director UWA said that the disbursement is the first in more than two years as a result of covid-19 restrictions and low revenue collections.
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.
