Over 300 Wild Life Scouts Trained as Gov’t Prepares to Roll Out Wildlife Law

Government has outlined a number of strategies that have been undertaken to deal with the problem of human wildlife conflict in communities neighboring national parks.

Speaking in response to concerns about elephants that recently ravaged people’s crops in Purongo sub-county, Nwoya district, junior tourism minister Godfrey Kiwanda told MPs that among others, government is now excavating 38 kilometres of elephant trenches on Nwoya’s boundary with Kiryandongo district.

In areas where the soil texture cannot permit excavation, Kiwanda says chain links and barbed wire have been installed.

Besides, the minister says a number of wildlife scouts have been trained on how to deal with this problem.

“So far 310 wildlife scouts have been trained, equipped and are actively participating in the programme of elephant control in the frontline villages,” he noted.

In addition to these measures, ranger outposts have been set up in the most affected parts.

Regarding compensation of affected communities, Kiwanda said, government plans to implement this in the 2021/22 financial year when an enabling law is in place.

“We couldn’t do this because we had not planned for it in the other year. In the next financial year, the compensation law will be in full operation but of course we are still working on the regulation,” Kiwanda said.

The law

Under Section 84 of the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019, in instances where one is injured, harmed or his property is destroyed by wild animals, a claim may be submitted to the Wildlife compensation verification committee.  This can be through a legal representative or by the affected person.

For one to be awarded damages, he or she must not be within a wildlife conservation area under section 85(1) of the law that President Yoweri Museveni assented to July 1 2019.

In cases where one is found to have engaged in the hunting or in possession or in transacting protected species he or she faces a fine of 200 million shillings or life imprisonment under section 71 of the act.