President Yoweri Museveni has instructed the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities to oversee the installation of an electric fence along the border of Kidepo Valley National Game Park. The aim is to prevent marauding elephants from encroaching upon nearby communities.
During the thanksgiving and homecoming ceremony of Lillian Aber, Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, President Museveni addressed the ongoing issue of elephants invading neighboring communities of the national park. He proposed the implementation of an electric fence as a solution to mitigate such incidents.
Richard Todwong, the secretary-general of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), provided insight into the effectiveness of electric fences in wildlife management. He referenced the success of similar initiatives at the border of Murchison Falls National Park, where instances of elephant invasions decreased significantly.
The decision to install an electric fence was prompted by a plea from Kitgum district chairman Christopher Obol Arwayi. He highlighted the persistent challenges faced by communities bordering Kidepo Valley National Park, particularly in Orom and Namukora sub-counties of Kitgum district. For years, these communities have suffered from elephant invasions, resulting in extensive damage to crops and properties.
Despite existing laws allowing for compensation to affected individuals, many communities have not received adequate support. This lack of compensation has perpetuated poverty among affected families, as they struggle to provide for themselves in the aftermath of elephant raids.
Henry Oryem Okello, the state minister of foreign affairs, emphasized the burden that elephants pose to communities residing near the park. He explained the community’s reluctance to take action against marauding elephants due to fear of legal repercussions.
In response to wildlife conflicts, efforts have been made to employ various strategies for wildlife management. These include the introduction of surveillance drones for monitoring wildlife movement and the recruitment of community volunteers as wildlife scouts. Additionally, initiatives such as placing beehives along the park boundary aim to deter elephants from encroaching into community areas.
Gertrude Kirabo, a senior warden of community conservation, highlighted the community’s investment in ecotourism projects as a means of generating revenue and fostering coexistence with wildlife. Despite challenges, efforts are ongoing to address compensation claims for victims of wildlife attacks and to implement measures for sustainable wildlife conservation in the region.