By Juma Nsubuga
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has directed the Ministry of Finance to immediately provide funds to Uganda Wildlife Authority to put up an Electric Fence on all the major National Parks in Uganda to prevent the human-wildlife conflicts.
Nabbanja’s directive comes after numerous complaints from the locals who are being attacked by elephants and kill some people.
Nabbanja who’s also the Kakumiro district MP revealed this during an interface with officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Members of Parliament from the affected areas where elephants have been killing the locals.
“My Principal the President directed sometimes back that all national parks with elephants be fenced off with electric fences so that wild animals don’t attack people “Nabbanja said.
She added that by implementing this Presidential directive of putting fencing on all the national parks with electronic fence, it will be a lasting solution to stop animals from attacking locals.
The communities around the Major National Parks , Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo National park have on several occasions raised concerns about elephants invading their homes killing some of the people and properties destroyed.
“The question of Human-wildlife conflict is a thorn around my neck whenever I step on the floor of Parliament and it must be solved once and all” she added
Meanwhile, State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, requested the ministry to allow the Uganda Wildlife Authority to use funds that have been saved by the authority to put up the electric fence.
The Minister was accompanied by the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority Samuel John Mwondha who highlighted the scope of the work requiring Shs63million per kilometre of the electric fence.
The meeting was also attended by the state minister for Primary Education Mary Kaduchu, who provided tips to scare the animals away as the government seeks to build the fence.
The Prime Minister further directed Tourism Ministry to use the services of the UPDF Engineering brigade to put up the fence around the National parks.
Once the directive is implemented , Uganda Wildlife Authority will have spent close to Shs50 billion to fence off Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo National park.
