PARLIAMENT – Hon. Rebecca Kyarampe Namanya, the Woman Member of Parliament representing Mitooma District, raised concern in Parliament over persistent elephant attacks on communities in Ruhinda North Constituency, warning that the destruction of crops and property had threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of farming families.
While addressing the House during a parliamentary sitting, Namanya said the human-wildlife conflict had affected approximately ten villages and nearly 1,000 families, particularly in Kiyanga, Kigyende and Rwoburunga sub-counties in Mitooma District.
The legislator explained that the affected communities had endured the problem for about two years, during which elephants had repeatedly invaded gardens, destroyed crops and damaged property, leaving residents struggling to sustain their livelihoods through subsistence agriculture.
Namanya noted that agriculture remained a major source of livelihood for many households in Ruhinda North, explaining that the continued destruction of crops had placed the welfare of ordinary families at risk. She called for urgent government intervention to protect communities and their agricultural activities.
She reminded Parliament that Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa and the Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Bahinduka Mugarra, had previously visited the affected communities to address the elephant problem and engage residents over the destruction of their farms by animals from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The earlier visit by government officials had followed complaints from residents living near the national park over recurring elephant invasions and crop destruction. The issue had attracted public attention as communities sought lasting solutions to the growing conflict between people and wildlife.
Namanya appealed to the government to extend meaningful protection to residents of Ruhinda North, arguing that the communities deserved urgent attention and a lasting solution to the challenges they had faced for years.
She specifically called for the construction of a protective fence along vulnerable areas to prevent elephants from straying into gardens and settlements. She said such an intervention would help safeguard lives, protect crops and reduce the losses suffered by subsistence farmers.
The MP emphasised that many affected residents depended on their small farms to provide food for their families and earn a basic living. She urged the relevant government authorities to treat the matter as a priority, noting that the prolonged situation had left families vulnerable to continued agricultural losses.
Namanya’s appeal added to calls for sustainable measures to address human-wildlife conflict around Queen Elizabeth National Park, including effective protection for communities living near wildlife habitats. She urged the government to ensure that residents of Ruhinda North could farm safely, protect their property and improve their livelihoods.
