This year, farmers in Juma Parish, Kamdini Sub-County, Oyam District, are harvesting their crops peacefully without damages caused by stray elephants from Murchison Park, thanks to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) installing an electric fence.
Juma Parish, comprising 13 villages, was an area in Oyam District that suffered significantly from elephant attacks. Farmers faced challenges of stray elephants crossing from Murchison Park, damaging their crops, injuring them, and even causing fatalities. However, this year, such problems are no longer occurring after the installation of an electric fence by UWA.
Bonny Omara, Chairperson LC One of Apala B village in Juma Parish, Kamdini Sub-County, Oyam District, stated that the installation of the electric fence has allowed farmers with gardens near the park to harvest their crops peacefully this year, compared to previous years when elephants damaged crops and caused injuries.
Despite the installation of the electric fence, Omara mentioned that some people are still being attacked by stray elephants, especially those who illegally cross into the park for their own unlawful activities. Just a week ago, a fisherman, Ocen Denish Bagi from Juma Parish, entered Murchison Park illegally for fishing and was killed by elephants and crocodiles.
