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Hunger looms in Kiryandongo as elephants ravage food gardens
Residents from several villages in Kicwabugingo, Kyankende, and Kigumba sub-counties in Kiryandongo district have appealed to the government to compel the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to construct a live fence.
Elephants from Murchison Falls National Park have made it a habit to invade and destroy crops of locals in Kiryandongo District. (File photo)
By: Yosam Gucwaki, Journalist @New Vision
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Residents from several villages in Kicwabugingo, Kyankende, and Kigumba sub-counties in Kiryandongo district have appealed to the government to compel the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to construct an electric fence.
They say the fence would deter elephants from Murchison Falls National Park that invade their gardens and destroy their crops.
Farmers in these sub-counties have continuously reported devastating incidents of elephants wreaking havoc on their maize, bananas, and other crops.
Most locals have since resorted to buying foodstuffs from nearby markets and given up on farming, which has proved costly.
According to the locals, the 2021 UWA commitment to provide electric fencing had never materialised.
"We’ve cried out for help from local leaders, UWA, and the central government, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears," said Iddi Wabudeya Mustafa, on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, at Mpumwe Health Centre II.
He was speaking during a meeting organised by Jovia Katusiime, the district’s Woman Member of Parliament, who is traversing different health centres in the district to understand the issues affecting her constituents in the health sector.
According to the locals, the 2021 UWA commitment to provide electric fencing had never materialised.
"We’ve cried out for help from local leaders, UWA, and the central government, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears," said Iddi Wabudeya Mustafa, on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, at Mpumwe Health Centre II.
He was speaking during a meeting organised by Jovia Katusiime, the district’s Woman Member of Parliament, who is traversing different health centres in the district to understand the issues affecting her constituents in the health sector.
Jovia Katusiime, the Kiryandongo District Woman Member of Parliament, addressing residents of Kicwabugingo Sub-County. (Photo By Yosam Gucwaki)
"We are no longer having food because elephants come season after season and destroy everything. We are headed for serious food insecurity," he said, noting that they have complained to several authorities in vain.
Wabudeya also reported that they do not benefit from the revenue-sharing programme for communities near National parks. Instead, he alleged that "money is eaten by a small group of civil servants at the sub-county level."
Relatedly, Atandwa Alex, the LCI Chairperson of Hangamakweri in Kicwabugingo sub-county, also appealed to government for an immediate solution to prevent the human-animal conflict.
"Our lives are always at risk because if we try to drive these elephants from the gardens, they become very rowdy. Some people have died while attempting to drive away the elephants from the gardens whenever they invade," explained Atandwa, adding that elephants are more valued than humans.