By Bondry Kilenga
The Chief Warden Kidepo Valley National Game Park Richard Muhabwe, has said that preparations for the construction of the long awaited 137-kilometer electric fence around the park are in advanced stages.
This follows public outcry from the communities living along the game park over the persistent invasion by wild animals especially the elephants, buffaloes, and monkeys which stray into their farmlands and destroy their garden crops.
According to Muhabwe, the surveying of the fence’s route has already been done by the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
Without divulging the exact amount of funds injected into the project, he said the construction of the electric fence is expected to commence in August, this year.
Muhabwe noted that construction will commence at the hotspots where animals such as elephants frequently pass through while escaping from the game.
He added that the electric fence will be a significant step towards protecting Kidepo National Park’s rich biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of those living nearby.
The development follows 2024, petition by Kitgum district leaders to President Museveni on the need for a sustainable solution to the destruction caused by marauding elephants in the area.
In the petition presented to the president in May, 2024, Christopher Obol Arwai, the Kitgum district chairperson said several herds of elephants from Kidepo National Valley Park had increasingly been straying into the community and destroying several acres of garden crops.
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This was during the thanksgiving ceremony of Kitgum Woman Member of Parliament Lillian Aber on her appointment as State Minister for Refugees and Disaster Preparedness held at Kitgum District Farm Institute Farm Grounds.
Obol Arwai, named the sub-counties of Orom East, Orom, Namukora North, Omiya West and Mucwini as the most affected area.
In response, Museveni directed the Ministry of Tourism to erect an electric fence around Kidepo Valley National Park as it was done in Murchison Falls National Park to avert destruction by stray elephants.
It’s for this reason that the Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities has now embarked on preparations to construct 137-kilometer electric fence along the Park as stated by Kidepo Valley National Game Park Chief Warden, Richard Muhabwe.
Meanwhile Jino Meri, the Kaabong LCV chairperson urged the governemnt to expedite the fence installation to prevent further destruction by elephants and buffaloes.
He noted that although the preparations are said to be in advanced stages, it is taking too long for UWA to begin the actual construction of the along-waited electric fence.
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