By Baluku Alex
One person has been killed by a stray elephant in Tweyambe village, Karusandara sub-county in Kasese district.
The incident happened today morning at 6:30am. The deceased has been identified as Charles Rwigyema aged 60, a casual laborer in the area.
Speaking to our reporter, who had gone to the scene, the residents who had become angry accused the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority for not doing much to curtail the wild beats from straying into the community land hence leading to loss of property and lives of people.
Archangel Byakabainwoha, the village Chairperson, revealed that Rwigyema becomes the second person to be killed by an elephant in the area in a period of less than three months.
Last month in March an elephant killed a 59 year old local farmer in the remote village of Karusandara Sub County.
Among government intervention of game rangers among others, human and wildlife conflicts remain a great challenge leading community to turn hostile to wildlife.
Residents have since demanded that Uganda Wild Life Authority-UWA extends electric fencing to the area. Karusandara is neighbouring Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meanwhile, a concerned citizen in Ibanda- Kyanya Town Council in Kasese district has warned the people against the practice of poaching from the gazetted areas.
Nason Bahundira, the Local Council I Chairperson for Ibanda II cell says it has been common for the residents especially neighboring Rwenzori Mountains National Park to encroach on the gazetted area to hunt the wild beasts.
Bahundira, who acknowledges the importance of national parks to the economy, encouraged the people to conserve the environment as well as having respect for the gazetted areas.
