Mitooma, Uganda – Residents of Kigyende Sub-county, Mitooma District, are living in terror as marauding elephant herds repeatedly raid their villages, causing widespread crop destruction and jeopardizing lives.
The elephants, originating from a nearby reserve, have relentlessly targeted Kanyehikire, Kahesha, and Omukabanda villages, decimating sugarcane, bean, and banana crops, and even consuming locally brewed alcohol. This escalating crisis has left the community desperate for government intervention.
Fear is palpable among the villagers. “We live in constant fear,” stated Scovia Nuwabiine, a resident whose garden was ravaged. “The elephants have destroyed everything, and we can’t fight back; they are too dangerous.”
Local leaders echo these sentiments, expressing profound frustration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)’s perceived inaction. Kigyende Sub-county Chairperson, Muhereza Evans, sharply criticized UWA’s slow response to the escalating crisis. “UWA’s reluctance to act is unacceptable,” he asserted. “We urgently request immediate deployment of personnel near the reserve to deter further attacks.”
Greenford Mucunguzi Kapota, Mitooma District Deputy Speaker and LC5 Councillor for Kigyende Sub-county, who visited the affected areas, reinforced the call for swift intervention.
He emphasized the need for both immediate action to prevent further crop destruction and potential loss of life, and subsequent compensation for the devastated gardens to avert widespread starvation.
The urgent need for both immediate protection and long-term solutions underscores the severity of this ongoing crisis.
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