Mitooma residents fearful as stray elephants wreak havoc

MITOOMA - Residents of Kigyende sub-county in Mitooma district are living in fear as stray elephants continue to invade villages, destroying crops and endangering lives.

The elephants have ravaged gardens in Kanyehikire, Kahesha, and Omukabanda villages, consuming sugarcane, beans, bananas, and even locally brewed alcohol.

Locals are urging the government to intervene, saying they are powerless to chase the animals away due to the risk they pose.

"We are living in fear for our lives. All our gardens have been badly eaten off by the elephants, and we don't have the capacity to chase them because they are dangerous to our lives," said Scovia Nuwabiine, a resident whose crops have been destroyed.

Kigyende subcounty chairperson Muhereza Evans condemned the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for its delayed response.

"The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has been reluctant to respond to our cries for help, and we request that they deploy personnel near the reserve to prevent further harm," he said.

Mitooma district deputy speaker Greenford Mucunguzi Kapota, who also doubles as the Kigyende sub-county LC5 councillor, visited the affected villages and urged UWA to take action.

"We need the UWA to take immediate action to prevent further destruction of people's crops and loss of life. We also call for compensation for the lost gardens to prevent starvation among our people," he said.