Justine Muboka
14 October 2008
Amuru — Leaders in Koch Goma Sub-county in Amuru District have vowed to kill elephants loitering in the area if they are not driven back to Murchison Falls National Park.
The elephants, reported to be 35 in number, have destroyed several acres of crops in the areas of Koch Lii, Koch Amaa, Labongo gali, Alero Coroom and Agonga.
Over 800 residents of the affected areas held a peaceful demonstration on Saturday against the invasion at Koch Goma headquarters.
The protestors had placards with messages such as, "We want to go back home but the elephants are a problem."
Another message directed to the northern region presidential adviser, Mr Richard Todwong, read, "Todwong, send our concern to the President, the elephants are driving us back to poverty and into the camp."
They accused the government of prioritising the elephants over human beings. "It is not our duty to feed the elephants. If they have become too many to maintain, let Uganda Wild life Authority sell off some of the elephants to people who can maintain them," an elderly resident, Mr Jackson Lukwiya, said.
Jonan Fred Okello of Alang Village said, "The elephants have eaten my five acres of bananas which I had planted with hopes of sustaining myself,"
The residents are also demanding that they be compensated for the destroyed crops. They said their MPs were silent about the matter and had never raised it in Parliament while they suffer.
A statement from the Uganda Wild Life Authority says they are digging trenches around the park and giving beehives to communities.
The park warden, Mr Charles Okuta, said the buzzing of the bees will help to drive the elephants back into the park.
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