By Moses Ntare
Residents of Kyenyabutongo and Kameme villages in Kibimbiri parish, Kihihi Sub County Kanungu district are decrying the continued destruction of their crops by stray elephants from Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha.
The residents who include Nelson Natukunda, Lillian Muheirwe, Meble Ashaba claim that the elephants have destroyed their maize and millet gardens which could lead them to severe famine and poverty.
It should however be remembered that last year the same area Kihihi Sub County was hit by a severe famine due to a prolonged drought which allegedly claimed the lives of at least 7 people including 4 children.
The Kihihi Sub County Chairperson Nelson Natukunda is worried that this destruction may lead to the re-occurrence of the famine in the area unless strong protective measures by Uganda Wild life Authority are taken.
Andrew Oryema, a park warden of Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha sector attributed the mess to lack of enough man power especially the rangers to guard the animals and stop them from straying from the park and evading people’s gardens
Recently , wildlife Conservation society , an NGO offered to construct an electric fence along the park in the villages in kihihi sub county , but has been let down by laclk of electricity since the whole of Kiihi Sub County is not connected on the national grid.
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