By Flavia Ajok
Farmers in Bunyama village neighboring Murchison Falls National Park in Kiryandongo district are crying out for relief amid wildlife conflicts.
Farmers in the area are grappling with the devastating consequences of wildlife conflict, as elephants continue to wreak havoc on their maize and banana plantations.
In a single night, over 10 acres of farmland were ravaged by these majestic creatures in Bunyama village leaving farmers with significant losses and a sense of desperation over the weekend.
Jacklyn Awori, a farmer, told our reporter that they are struggling to make ends meet stressing that she was expecting to harvest 40 bags of maize from her acres but she managed to get only 20 kilograms.
According to Awori, this incident is not an isolated one; Bunyama village has been plagued by elephant incursions for eight consecutive farming seasons, despite promises of electric fencing since 2021.
Godfrey Kisembo, another farmer, asserts that their leaders have abandoned them to the mercy of wild animals. He says the situation has left farmers feeling frustrated and helpless.
Kisembo adds that they have cried out for help from local leaders, wildlife authorities, and the central government, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
He notes that the recent allocation of 79 million shillings to Kyankende sub-county from the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s social responsibility fund has done little to alleviate the problem.
Chelsea Tumwesigye, a farmer, decries that the impact of this conflict extends beyond the farmers’ livelihoods, threatening food security and poverty is exacerbated.
He says since they depend on agriculture, their children are likely to drop out of school due to lack of fees, which were meant to be paid from the destroyed plantations.
David Ogwang, the Bunyama LC1 Chairperson confirmed the distraction and called upon the district and Uganda Wildlife authority to come and save the farmers because within a short time the whole village may be struck by hunger.
Nelson Osaga, the LC3 Chairperson for Kyankende Sub County said it’s very unfortunate to affect farmers asserting that as local leaders at the sub county,they have tried their best but failed to totally prevent elephants from farmland.
He however said they made their appeal to the government to fence off the park mostly in the affected areas.
