Elephants invade villages in Masindi, destroy crops
He warned that the destruction of crops could prevent families from earning income, leading to school dropouts due to lack of school fees.
Masindi: Residents of Kyeicumu, Nyakarongo 1, and Nyakarongo 2 villages in Kiruli Sub-county are living in fear following an ongoing invasion of elephants from Murchison Falls National Park that has left crops destroyed and livelihoods at risk.
Speaking to UG Reports on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, affected residents expressed concern over the destruction caused by the elephants, which have been invading their gardens for over a week.
Shadia Abitekaniza, a resident of Nyakarongo 1, said her garden has turned into a resting place for elephants.
“My garden has now become a home of elephants for a week. Last week, they invaded around 8 a.m. We ran into the house and made an alarm that attracted residents. Rangers were contacted and drove the elephants back to the park,” she said.
Abitekaniza warned of looming hunger, stating that all her crops have been destroyed. She appealed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to evaluate the extent of the damage and compensate the affected farmers.
“We borrowed money from the bank. Now that our crops are gone, we may lose our property to financial institutions,” she added.
Ephraim Tumwebaze, the LC1 Chairperson of Nyakarongo, confirmed that elephants invade the village twice a week, causing destruction and panic. He called on the government to step in and provide lasting solutions.
Paul Mugabi, the Publicity Secretary of Kiruli Parish, reported that he receives complaints from local leaders on a daily basis. He warned that the destruction of crops could prevent families from earning income, leading to school dropouts due to lack of school fees.
Wilson Kagoro, the Community Service Warden for Murchison Falls National Park, acknowledged the issue and confirmed that rangers have been deployed to drive the elephants back into the park.
On the matter of compensation, Kagoro advised affected farmers to engage with rangers and compile a report outlining the damage, which would be used as a basis for further action.
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