Kitgum, Uganda: The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has begun consultations with district leaders on plans to construct an electric fence around areas bordering Kidepo Valley National Park to reduce human–wildlife conflict, particularly elephant attacks on farms and settlements.
The consultative meeting held at Bomah Hotel in Kitgum Municipality on Thursday brought together district chairpersons, Resident District Commissioners, security officials and technical teams from Agago, Kitgum, Abim, Karenga, Kotido and Kaabong districts.
The discussions focused on strategies to protect communities living near the Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area, where wildlife frequently strays into villages and destroys crops.
District leaders used the meeting to highlight the growing threat posed by wildlife, especially elephants, which have increasingly invaded gardens and grazing areas near the park.
Some leaders said residents have repeatedly reported cases of elephants destroying crops and threatening livelihoods in the affected communities.
They warned that without practical interventions, tensions between conservation authorities and communities struggling to protect their livelihoods could escalate.
UWA Director for Conservation John Makombo said the consultations are part of an engagement process that began in August 2024. “We started engaging leaders from the districts bordering Kidepo in August 2024 so that they understand the project and also guide us on how best it can be implemented,” Makombo said.
He explained that the fencing initiative is aimed at providing a long-term solution to persistent wildlife incursions affecting communities near the park. “Our aim is to reduce human–wildlife conflict, especially the frequent elephant attacks on gardens and settlements around the park,” he added.
Makombo revealed that the government has already completed 27 kilometres of electric fencing along parts of the conservation area in Karenga District as part of a pilot phase.
“We have already completed about 27 kilometres of the electric fence in Karenga as part of the first phase, and this is helping us test and understand the terrain,” he said.
The next phase will extend the fencing project significantly. “The plan is to extend the fence to about 292 kilometres covering communities that share a boundary with the park,” Makombo said.
The fencing project follows a government allocation of about Shs15 billion to support wildlife deterrent fencing around several national parks across Uganda.
Officials say the investment aims to reduce crop destruction, protect lives and improve relations between conservation agencies and communities living near protected areas.
According to local government officials, districts bordering Kidepo are expected to benefit directly from the project.
Christopher Arwai Obol said the districts around the park are expected to receive about Shs3 billion to support fencing along the planned 292-kilometre boundary.
Several district leaders welcomed the initiative, saying electric fencing could significantly reduce wildlife incursions if implemented effectively. However, they emphasized the importance of continuous consultations with communities to ensure the fencing project covers the most affected areas.
They also called for complementary measures such as community sensitisation programmes and rapid wildlife response teams to manage emergency situations.
Communities living near Kidepo Valley National Park have long faced challenges from wildlife leaving the protected area in search of food and water, particularly during dry seasons.
Conservation officials believe the electric fencing project will help create a barrier that keeps wildlife within protected ecosystems while protecting nearby communities and their livelihoods.
If fully implemented, the project could mark a major step in addressing one of the most persistent conservation challenges affecting communities around Kidepo.
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