Residents of Kitera LC1 in Kyanaisoke sub-county, Kagadi District, are urging the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to address the escalating issue of chimpanzees invading their area, wreaking havoc on crops, including sugarcane, maize, and banana plantations. The recent attack has left residents like Robert Lubega and Mary Tumwine anxious about the potential threat of famine.
Lubega stressed the need for UWA to relocate the marauding chimps to their natural habitats, suggesting sites such as Kibaale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Mugahinga National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The plea arises from the destruction of crops and the looming danger to human life, particularly children who traverse long distances through bushes for firewood and water.
Despite no reported fatalities caused by the chimps, residents, including Judith Tuhaise, express fear and panic about the possibility of future attacks. The Kyanaisoke sub-county LCIII chairman, Yuda Tadeo Mugisa, echoes concerns about the primates damaging gardens and calls on UWA to find a lasting solution.
Mugisa cautions residents against hunting down the chimps, emphasizing the importance of waiting for UWA to relocate them to designated areas. While blaming UWA officials for perceived reluctance, Mugisa urges residents to cease hunting chimps with dogs, highlighting the potential for retaliation that endangers both children and adults.
Alindwawenka Kamihanda, the district male councillor for people with disabilities and a resident of the affected sub-county, attributes the chimpanzee invasion to encroachment on their habitats. Fellow councillor Amos Sseburiba joins the call for UWA to swiftly relocate the chimps to prevent potential harm from angry residents.
Both leaders stress the importance of environmental conservation and advise residents to refrain from conflicting with the chimps until UWA completes the relocation to gazetted areas. Joseph Ocaya, a supervisor with UWA, acknowledges the challenges of relocating stray primates, citing cost implications. He urges residents to coexist harmoniously with the chimps and avoid harming their young ones, assuring ongoing efforts for sensitization and potential transfers to their natural habitats.
