KAMPALA — Nyabushozi County Member of Parliament Hon. Wilson Kajwengye Twinomugisha has highlighted new measures adopted by Parliament’s committee responsible for tourism and trade to address human-wildlife conflict, including changes to the reporting period for wildlife incidents, compensation for affected residents and penalties for game rangers who misuse firearms or mistreat citizens.
Kajwengye, who represents Nyabushozi County in Kiruhura District, first raised the concerns in Parliament on August 4, 2026, after receiving reports of suffering among communities neighbouring Lake Mburo National Park. His submissions highlighted deaths, crop destruction, livestock losses and damage to dams and other water sources caused by wild animals.
The legislator identified affected communities including Nyaminekye, Rwamuhuku, Rushororo, Rwabarata, Kanyaryeru, Nsanga and neighbouring areas. He called on the government to compensate affected residents, provide relief to families suffering losses and strengthen electric fencing around the park to prevent wild animals from invading communities.
Following Kajwengye’s submissions, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa directed the parliamentary committee responsible for tourism and trade matters to visit the affected communities and investigate the concerns. The committee subsequently engaged Kajwengye and visited parts of Nyabushozi on August 28, 2026, including Rwamuhuku, Nyaminekye, Rushororo and Bumara Njara in Kayanja Sub-county.
Among the measures highlighted on October 15, 2026, is the extension of the period for reporting wildlife-related incidents from 72 hours to five days. The change is intended to give affected residents additional time to report incidents and pursue compensation, particularly where distance and other practical challenges make immediate reporting difficult.
The committee also addressed the need to ensure that compensation reaches eligible victims without unnecessary delays(2-3 months) Kajwengye’s submissions emphasised the suffering of residents whose livestock, crops and other property have been destroyed by wild animals, as well as families affected by loss of human life. The measures discussed seek to improve the handling of claims and provide relief to those who qualify for compensation.
In a further measure, the committee addressed penalties for game rangers who misuse firearms or mistreat residents. Under the committee’s reported decisions, rangers found responsible for such misconduct are to face punishment in accordance with the law. These penalties were decisions of the parliamentary committee, not proposals made by Kajwengye. The exact punishments should be stated according to the committee’s adopted provisions.
The committee also addressed the need to strengthen electric fencing and restore damaged dams and other water sources. These interventions are intended to reduce encounters between people and wildlife while helping farming communities protect their livestock, crops and access to water. Residents living near the park have repeatedly faced challenges that threaten their livelihoods and household incomes.
The measures mark a significant development in the response to concerns raised by Kajwengye on behalf of his constituents. Attention now turns to implementation, including the five-day reporting period, timely compensation for eligible victims, enforcement of the committee’s decisions on ranger misconduct and practical measures to prevent further destruction. For Nyabushozi residents, the success of these interventions will depend on whether the decisions translate into meaningful protection and relief on the ground.
