A herd of African Cave Buffaloes from Kidepo Valley National Park has strayed into Agago District villages, killing a 36-year-old farmer on Saturday at around 4 pm. Agago District Chairperson Wilson Otto said the animal influx is driven by prolonged drought as wildlife searches for community land water and pastures.
Buffaloes Kill Farmer in Agago Villages
A herd of about ten African Cave Buffaloes has moved into several villages in Agago District, resulting in a fatal attack in Akwang Village, Paimol Sub-county. According to Agago District Chairperson Wilson Otto, a group of six buffaloes gored a 36-year-old farmer, Mr Richard Olwoch, to death on Saturday afternoon at approximately 4 pm.
Stray Animals Cause Six Deaths in One Year
Olwoch’s death brings the number of fatalities caused by stray wild animals in Agago District to half a dozen over the span of a single year. District officials note that these animals regularly leave conservation areas to enter community lands in search of pastures and water during prolonged drought conditions.
Uganda: Elephants straying from Kidepo Valley National Park have killed three people and injured two in Agago District in five days. More than 500 elephants and 1,000 buffaloes are outside the park, wildlife officials say, and residents have killed two elephants in retaliation.
Community Safety Efforts and Electric Fence Funding.
Local Leaders Engage Wildlife Authority
Local leadership has begun organizing community safety awareness campaigns while coordinating with conservation authorities.
The wild animals are now living with us,
Mr Otto said on Sunday. We have started sensitising the people on how to keep safe as we engage Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to drive them back to the conservation areas and find lasting solutions,
President Museveni Orders Park Electric Fence
Efforts to secure the park boundaries include a 2024 directive from President Yoweri Museveni for the Uganda Wildlife Authority to erect an electric fence around Kidepo Valley National Park.
This fence aims to stop wild animals from straying into community land, attacking residents, and destroying garden crops.
State Minister for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Beatrice Akello Akori, speaking from Gulu City, recently urged the Uganda Wildlife Authority to fast-track compensation for farmers who lost crops to elephants straying from Kidepo National Park.
Ms Akori serves as the Agago District Woman Member of Parliament. She disclosed that the government provided the Uganda Wildlife Authority with Shs 10 billion to install the boundary electric fence for community and farmland protection.
