Farmers bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park can now breathe a sigh of relief following the establishment of an electric fence aimed at curbing persistent human-wildlife conflict.
Previously ravaged by animals like elephants and warthogs, the farmers say the fence has restored hope in their agricultural activities.
Yusuf Byabagambe, a local farmer, narrated how wild animals routinely destroyed their crops, forcing them to rely on ineffective traditional methods such as digging pits and planting thorned hedges, which proved futile especially against giant elephants.
“We tried everything, but nothing worked until this electric fence,” he said.
Richard Agaba, another farmer, noted that the presence of wildlife had previously limited them from growing certain crops.
“We were forced to abandon crops like maize and sweet potatoes because they attracted wild animals. But now we can grow any crop of our choice,” he added.
Despite the progress, Byabagambe raised concerns over limited access to water for irrigation, especially during dry seasons.
He called on the government to provide an irrigation scheme to maximize their agricultural productivity.
Mike Birungi, a community conservation ranger with Queen Elizabeth National Park, confirmed that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is actively working to complete the installation of the electric fence.
In areas not yet fenced, rangers have been deployed to monitor and guard against stray animals, ensuring continued protection for the farming communities.