More than 1,000 households whose gardens were destroyed by
stray elephants in Agago District have expressed concern about the delay by the
government to compensate them for the loss of crops to elephants.
The affected farmers, mostly from Layita and
Lujim Parishes in Omiya Pachwa Sub-County said since they were registered for
compensation last year, they are yet to receive support in form of seeds or
food aid.
Robinson Oryemkoma a resident of Kilak Village in Lujim Parish said
since last year, the chairperson of his village registered households whose
crops were destroyed by the elephants but they are yet to receive any feedback
on the registration. Oryemkoma said last year, farmers realized poor crop
yields due to the late onset of rain, coupled with prolonged dry spells in
between.
Samuel Okot Alita, a resident of Kasiro West
Village in Lojim Parish said a few days ago the elephants destroyed four acres
of his cassava garden and a day after cleared 750 heaps of potatoes he just
planted.
Samuel Amanya, the Chief Warden for Kidepo Conservation
Area said there are interventions in place to chase the stray elephants in the
affected areas. Amanya said out of the 370 scouts recruited, 80 are
deployed in Agago and they are equipped with the tools such as vuvuzelas,
bangers, and whistles needed to drive away the animals.
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