HUNGER ANTICIPATED IN BULIISA AS ELEPHANTS RAID GARDENS

By Innocent Atuganyira

www.mknewslink.com

In Buliisa—

Residents of Buliisa district are at risk of facing food shortage after elephants from Murchison Falls National Park destroyed more than 20 acres of gardens.

The animals destroyed acres of maize, beans, groundnuts and cassava, among other crops.

The elephants raided Pondiga village in Nyamitete Parish Buliisa Sub County on Thursday.

David Bedijo, a resident, told www.mknewslink.com  reporter that their continuous calls to Uganda Wildlife Authority have turned futile since they don’t get any response from the UWA.

“The elephants have left us with nothing to eat or sell for money, we are appealing for government intervention and support with food,” Bedijo decried.

Sharon Nabbasa, another resident said that her only garden was destroyed leaving her confused without food. She urged the government to fence the park with electric wires to protect them from the wild animals.

“My only garden has been destroyed by the elephants, I don’t have what to feed my children. Government should fence the national park with electric wires to protect us from the wild animals,” she urged.

The Buliisa Constituency Member of Parliament Allan Atugonza told www.mknewslink.com  reporter that as leaders they have tried to engage UWA but there is no positive response.

“We have tried to engage UWA on the issue of wild animals raiding gardens but have not yielded fruits,” he said.

The politician further expressed concern that the Elephants may hinder the implementation of the Parish Development Model since the farmers’ income will be affected thus unable to refund the money to their respective SACCOs.

The manager UWA Human – Wildlife, Vanish Mirembe called upon residents to be vigilant as UWA is still procuring electric fences to protect them from the wild animals.

“Residents should be vigilant as UWA is still procuring the electric fences to protect them from the wild animals,’’ she said.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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