Residents demand more UWA community outposts as elephant kills another person

Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents of Karusandara sub county in Kasese district have asked Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA to establish more ranger outposts to control animal attacks in the community. It follows the death of a 60-year-old man who was killed by an elephant on Saturday.

An elephant trampled on Charles Wenjemah, a resident of Tweyambe village, Karusandara sub county while in his garden. Karusandara neighbors Queen Elizabeth National Park. In March, another stray elephant killed 54 year old Johnstone Mbusa while sleeping in his temporary structure beside his garden.

Ibrahim Saad who survived an elephant attack last week says that his two acres of soya garden have been destroyed by stray elephants. He says UWA staff takes time to respond to community calls, something he thinks can be resolved by establishing more ranger outposts across the park.

Zakiya Kyomuhangi, a resident of Tweyambe says community outposts could help to end illegal activities and improve the safety of wildlife and humans. She says the family abandoned their commercial land after escaping wildlife attacks.

Emmanuel Muhibwa, another resident says wildlife attacks in the area are increasingly worrying. Erikanjeru Byakaboinyoha, the LC 1 Tweyambe village says elephant attacks have become common during the dry spell as they search for food and water.

He says ranger outposts will also enable closer collaboration, coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing between UWA and the local communities.

Matiya Masereka, the area councillor says a number of residents have abandoned farming for fear of being killed by elephants. He demands UWA to partner with UPDF to provide more security around communities neighbouring the park.

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