Elephants Destroy Crops in Amuru
Justin Moror
20 November 2009


Kampala — AT least 18 goats in Koch-Goma sub-county in Amuru district have been killed by stray elephants from Murchison Falls National Park since the beginning of the year, the LC3 chairman, John Bosco Okullo, said on Thursday.

Okullo also said the elephants and some buffalos have destroyed crops, especially rice, beans, cassava, millet, sorghum and maize, leaving the affected residents at the risk of famine.

One resident, Vincent Laridat, said the elephants have destroyed most of his beans and rice. He added that he is considering returning to the camps for the internally displaced at Koch-Goma trading centre to find refuge from the stray elephants.

Amuru resident district commissioner, Edwin Komakech said UWA is doing everything possible to stop the animals from straying. He advised residents not to hunt down the stray animals, but to contact the authority to drive them away.