Baluku 45 was attacked by the elephant at 7:30 am as he headed to his farm in Nyaruzigati. Kananga says the wild animals had turned violent after the community and game park rangers started chasing them away from the community.
Two people have sustained injuries after they were attacked by
elephants that had strayed from Queen Elizabeth National Park into the
communities of Kanyughunya, Rwenguhyo and Lhuhwahwa in Kasese district.
The victims are Kananga Baluku a resident of Kanyughunya and
Caroline Naziwa, a resident of Rwembya village in Kisinga Sub County.
Baluku was attacked by the
elephant at 7:30 am as he headed to his farm in Nyaruzigati.
Kananga says the wild animals had turned violent after the game rangers started chasing them away from the community.
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Baluku underwent surgery at Kagando Hospital.
He has had about three of his ribs damaged according to his younger Jockus
Kananga.
According to Joyce Muhindo, her daughter in law, Naziwa 75 had been gasping blood by the time she was brought to the medical facility.
Muhindo appeals to Uganda
Wildlife Authority to reign in and offer some relief to the affected families
since the elephants attacked them outside the protected areas.
Basisa Bwambale, a resident
of lhuhwahwa says it is unfortunate that as they make efforts to come out
poverty, their efforts are washed away in a single day. Basisa whose half acre
of vanilla was destroyed said he has lost more than three million shillings in
the raid.
Joseless Biira, the agricultural officer Kisinga sub county says
about 30 acres of crops were affected in the Wednesday morning raid.
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Biira says there is need to sign the Uganda Wildlife Amendment Bill which
provides for compensation to victims when wild animals attack or destroy
properties and life outside the protected areas.
However, recently Kasese district LC V Chairperson Geoffrey
Sibendire Bigogo appealed to president Museveni to assent to the bill.
Museveni, who did not address himself to the bill, instead said
government had started erecting an electric fence along the park to prevent
animals from straying into communities.
Kisinga sub-county LC III chairperson wants UWA to expedite the
electric fencing so that there ceases to be confrontation between wild game and
the community.
