UPDF, UWA launch ‘operation safe corridor’ to drive stray elephants back to Kidepo

Kitgum: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have launched a joint operation to drive stray elephants from Kitgum District back to the Kidepo Conservation Area.

Dubbed “Operation Safe Corridor,” the exercise commenced with a joint security meeting at Lokoropwac Primary School, chaired by Kitgum Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Ssegawa Jimmy Ebil, who is also the chairperson of the District Security Committee.

The meeting was attended by Chua East Member of Parliament Okoya John Calvin and other local government leaders from the greater Orom and Namokora areas.

According to RDC Ssegawa, the operation was strategically coordinated by Minister Aber Lillian in consultation with the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and President Yoweri Museveni.

“The operation was highly coordinated at the strategic level by Minister Aber Lillian in consultation with the CDF and the President,” Ssegawa said.

He said the operation is being led by the 505 Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kashagama, using a UPDF helicopter supported by ground personnel.

The joint team successfully pushed the elephants from Ceylon Village in Lunganyura Parish through Obwore Village in Gule Parish, Orom Subcounty.

Meanwhile, the Kitgum team, together with the Kidepo Chief Warden, inspected the Kitgum-Karenga border, where a nine-kilometre electric fence has been erected to prevent elephants from re-entering Kitgum from Karenga.

An additional five-kilometre electric fence is also planned around Lodwar Village in Akurumo Parish, Orom East Subcounty, and parts of Gule Parish in Orom Subcounty.

The measures are intended to create a safe corridor for the elephants to return to the Kidepo Conservation Area while reducing human-wildlife conflict in communities.

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