KAMPALA — Parliament’s Tourism, Trade and Industry Committee has launched an inquiry into the escalating human-wildlife conflict in different parts of the country, with lawmakers warning that communities are bearing the brunt of deaths, injuries, crop destruction and loss of livelihoods.
The committee began receiving testimonies from Members of Parliament representing constituencies affected by wildlife, as Parliament continues to receive complaints over animals straying from protected areas and attacking people and destroying crops.
Committee Chairperson and Kole South MP Boniface Okot said the opening session had highlighted the magnitude of the crisis, particularly the loss of human lives and weaknesses in the existing compensation framework.
Okot said victims of wildlife attacks face delays and bureaucratic hurdles in accessing compensation, while the amounts awarded in some cases are considered inadequate by affected communities.
He said the committee would continue collecting evidence before summoning officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to respond to the concerns raised by MPs and communities.
According to Okot, some witnesses accused UWA of placing greater emphasis on wildlife conservation than the protection of communities living near protected areas.
He, however, said the committee would visit affected communities and engage all stakeholders before making recommendations to Parliament.
Soroti County MP Patrick Aeku, the committee’s vice chairperson, said the inquiry should go beyond documenting complaints and instead identify practical measures to reduce human-wildlife encounters.
Among the proposals under consideration are the installation of electric fences around major national parks, improving water sources within protected areas to reduce animal movement into communities and reforming the compensation system.
Kaabong District Woman MP Cathy Achia called for the accelerated fencing of protected areas and the deployment of drones to monitor wildlife and help track animals that stray into communities.
The inquiry comes amid growing concerns from communities living near protected areas, who say frequent encounters with wildlife continue to threaten lives, food security and household incomes.
The committee is expected to continue receiving submissions from affected MPs and communities before engaging UWA officials and other relevant stakeholders as it prepares its recommendations.
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