KIRYANDONGO UGANDA: Residents from several villages in Kicwabugingo, Kyankende, and Kigumba sub-counties in Kiryandongo District have appealed to the government to compel the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to construct an electric fence to prevent elephants from Murchison Falls National Park from invading their gardens and destroying crops.
Farmers in the affected sub-counties say elephants have repeatedly destroyed maize, bananas, and other crops, leaving many households struggling to produce enough food.
Some residents have resorted to buying food from nearby markets after abandoning farming, which they say has become increasingly costly.
The residents also claim that a 2021 commitment by UWA to construct an electric fence has never been fulfilled.
“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 on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, at Mpumwe Health Centre II.
Wabudeya was speaking during a meeting organised by Kiryandongo District Woman Member of Parliament Jovia Katusiime, who was visiting health centres across the district to understand challenges affecting her constituents in the health sector.
He said repeated elephant invasions had left many families without enough food.
“We are no longer having food because elephants come season after season and destroy everything. We are headed for serious food insecurity,” Wabudeya said.
He also claimed that residents do not benefit from the revenue-sharing programme for communities living near national parks, alleging that the funds are mismanaged at the sub-county level.
Meanwhile, Atandwa Alex, the LC1 Chairperson of Hangamakweri in Kicwabugingo Sub-County, called for an urgent solution to the human-wildlife conflict.
“Our lives are 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 whenever they invade,” Atandwa said.
He added that residents feel that elephants are being given greater protection than the people whose livelihoods are affected by their repeated incursions.
