Game rangers have been deployed to escort two elephants back into Murchison Falls National Park after the animals escaped and began destroying crops in nearby villages. The intervention is part of ongoing efforts to address escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region.
This development follows a week of increasing elephant incursions into communities surrounding the park. Residents have expressed growing concern, citing extensive crop damage and a rising sense of fear and insecurity.
Villages such as Kyeicumu, Nyakarongo 1, and Nyakarongo 2 in Kiruli Sub-county have been particularly hard-hit. Speaking on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, residents detailed the extent of the destruction.
Shadia Abitekaniza, a resident of Nyakarongo 1, described her garden as having turned into an “elephant home.” She recounted a recent incident in which rangers had to be called in to drive the animals away from her property.
Abitekaniza warned of impending hunger due to the complete loss of her crops and appealed to UWA for damage assessment and compensation. She also cited the financial strain.
‘We borrowed money from the bank. Now that our crops are gone, we may lose our property to financial institutions,” she said
Ephraim Tumwebaze, the LC1 Chairperson of Nyakarongo, confirmed the frequent incursions.
“Elephants enter the village twice weekly, causing destruction and panic, we call for government intervention,’ he stated
Tumwebaze further warned that the continued destruction of crops could severely impact household incomes, potentially forcing children to drop out of school due to an inability to pay school fees.
Wilson Kagoro, the Community Service Warden for Murchison Falls National Park, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and confirmed that rangers have been deployed to help manage the escalating conflict.
On the matter of compensation, Kagoro urged affected farmers to work closely with the rangers to document and report the damage. These reports, he noted, are essential in guiding the next steps by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
