Authorities in Nakaseke District are in fear after wild dogs and foxes invaded Kinoni, Kinyogoga and Ngoma sub-counties, killing at least 200 goats since December.

The district Production Manager, Mr Edris Ssebale, yesterday confirmed the development, but said the district is looking for funds for a vermin control team from the neighbouring district of Luweero who have the expertise to deal with the problem.

"We are looking for funds to facilitate a vermin control team that will deal with this problem. Several of our farmers have lost their goats to these wild dogs that hide in some of the neighbouring forests," Dr Ssebale said.

Losses

Kinoni LC3 chairperson, Mr Patrick Tumwesigye, said farmers have registered losses yet some of the goats were given to them through the Naads programme to eradicate poverty in the cattle corridor area.

"We have lost more than 200 goats since last month when these wild dogs invaded our area. We suspect that the dogs could have been abandoned by hunters from Nakasongola District before the restrictions by the Uganda Wildlife Authority a few years ago," Mr Tumwesigye said.

"The farmers report at least five goats killed every day," the Kinoni chairperson said.

Nakaseke speaker on Saturday said district authorities had resolved to counter the problem through lobbying for funds to support the vermin control team.

According Mr Emmanuel Karunji, a farmer of Kyera Village in Kinoni Sub-county, the wild dogs have so far killed 17 goats from his farm since last month. He said yesterday that efforts to poison the wild dogs have failed to yield any results. "We only pray that these wild dogs are killed by the vermin team who have the guns," Mr Karunji said.