Kasese District Chairman, Geoffrey Sibendire Bigogo has called on Parliament to expedite the passing of the Uganda Wildlife Amendment Bill 2017.
Bigogo says the passing of the bill into law will help compensate communities whose properties and lives are lost at the hands of wild animals from protected Areas.
Under the current Uganda Wildlife Act, there is no provision that caters for compensation on the extent of damage caused by any wild game even outside the protected areas.
According to Bigogo, the district is losing billions of shillings because some animals stray into people’s farms not only destroying crops but also eating livestock.
Kasese neighbors Queen Elizabeth, Mt. Rwenzori and Kibale national parks.
Under the proposed law, section 84 calls for the establishment of a compensation fund that will be manned by the damages committee of Uganda Wildlife Authority.
He says the proposed law, when passed, will also encourage UWA to be more serious with managing their animals because they will want to reduce on the monies paid in compensation.
Kasese Municipality MP, Robert Centenary who also doubles as the Shadow Minister for Wild Life, Tourism and Antiquities concurs with Bigogo that the law, when passed, will be a relief to many communities around the parks.
