BULIISA — The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Parliament have stepped up efforts to address persistent human-wildlife conflicts in communities surrounding the Murchison Falls Conservation Area, with a parliamentary committee visiting the area to assess existing interventions.
The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry, led by its chairperson, Hon Okot Boniface, visited the conservation area to assess the challenges faced by communities living alongside wildlife and examine measures being implemented to prevent attacks and protect livelihoods.
The committee was received by Mr David Musingo, UWA Commissioner for Community Conservation and Ex-situ Services, and Mr Kiiza Fred, the Chief Warden of Murchison Falls Conservation Area.
During the visit, UWA officials briefed the legislators on conservation activities in the area, focusing on human-wildlife conflict mitigation and the ongoing verification and compensation of communities affected by wildlife incidents.
Mr Kiiza explained the procedures for compensation and updated the committee on progress made in compensating affected communities and implementing relevant regulations.
During an engagement with residents of Waiga Village, community members shared experiences of crop destruction, injuries and loss of lives resulting from wildlife attacks, with elephants identified as a major source of conflict.
Residents also expressed concern over delays in compensation and the incomplete section of the electric fence, which they said continues to provide an entry point for elephants into community areas.
Mr Musingo acknowledged the concerns raised by the residents, explaining that some of the previous delays in compensation were partly caused by staffing challenges.
He said UWA has since strengthened its technical team to improve conservation education, human-wildlife conflict mitigation and the processing of compensation claims.
On the unfinished electric fence, Mr Kiiza assured residents that plans were underway to complete the remaining section, with the works expected to be completed before October 2026.
The discussions highlighted the need for stronger preventive measures to reduce human-wildlife conflicts rather than relying mainly on interventions after incidents occur.
The committee emphasised the importance of completing protective infrastructure, improving compensation processes and strengthening collaboration between communities, UWA and other relevant institutions.
The parliamentary assessment is expected to help identify gaps in existing interventions and strengthen accountability in addressing the challenges faced by communities living near protected areas.
For communities such as those in Waiga, the conflict remains a daily concern, as wildlife attacks can destroy crops, damage property and threaten lives and livelihoods.
The engagement therefore underscored the need to balance wildlife conservation with the protection of communities whose livelihoods are directly affected by living alongside protected areas.
The committee is scheduled to proceed to Kidepo Valley Conservation Area to continue assessing human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures and engage with communities living near the protected area.