Hon. Annah Nuwagaba Tumuramye Calls for Fencing of Queen Elizabeth National Park to Protect Local Farmers.

Rukungiri: Aspiring Member of Parliament for Rukungiri district, Hon. Annah Nuwagaba Tumuramye, has urged authorities to fence Queen Elizabeth National Park to protect local residents from wild animal attacks. 

During her visit to Rwenshama and Kikarara parishes in Bwambara subcounty on Tuesday 8, Tumuramye met with local villagers who often face dangers from animals that invade their homes and destroy their crops. Farmers reported losses in rice, bananas, maize, and millet due to these frequent encounters.

Tumuramye highlighted the fact that the government does not compensate those affected by damage caused by wildlife from the national park. To mitigate this issue, she proposed the installation of a protective net around the park to keep animals like elephants, monkeys, and buffalo out of residential areas.

In addition to addressing wildlife issues, Tumuramye pointed out the lack of tourism development in the district, despite having both a lake and a national park. She criticized local leaders for neglecting the tourism sector, which could generate income for the community. She pledged to work with the Ministry of Tourism to encourage tourists to visit Rukungiri, aiming to boost local tourism and economic opportunities.

Furthermore, Tumuramye spoke about her initiatives to improve household incomes in the district . She is working on projects involving cocoa farming and the creation of savings groups within villages, which she believes will help uplift the financial status of local families.

CUE IN…… TUMURAMYE //RR

When our news reporter attempted to reach the Secretary for Tourism at Rukungiri district for a comment, her phone was unavailable.