Increasing raids by stray monkeys have destroyed crops in several communities in Kapchorwa Municipality, prompting farmers to renew calls for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to capture and relocate the animals before the situation further threatens household food security.
The monkeys have reportedly invaded gardens in West and Central divisions, destroying beans, maize, cassava, potatoes and bananas. Farmers say they have repeatedly reported the problem to local authorities since 2023, but the raids have continued, and the monkey population has increased.
Nelson Mitingi, a farmer from Swomu Cell in Barawa Ward, said farmers first reported the problem to the district production department in 2023 and were assured that the matter would be referred to UWA. Mitingi said the situation has since worsened, with the animals now raiding gardens across the community.
“It’s now worse because it does not spare any garden. The monkeys have ravaged the entire community,” Mitingi said. He appealed to UWA and district authorities to intervene, saying farmers who invest heavily in crop production are losing their harvests to the animals. Fredrick Musobo, a farmer from Green Lodge Cell in Central Division, described the situation as alarming, saying residents have repeatedly reported the raids through local leaders without a lasting solution.
Musobo said the destruction is particularly devastating for farmers who borrow money to finance agricultural production. “Let me speak honestly, the community is so angry right now, and they can do anything bad to the stray monkeys,” Musobo said. Rosemary Chelangat, a farmer from Burkoyen Cell, said the crop destruction was worsening food insecurity among households that depend on agriculture for food and income.
“Repeated destruction of crops, coupled with prolonged dry spells, is making it increasingly difficult for families to recover from losses,” Chelangat said. Felix Sabila, the District Production Officer, acknowledged receiving complaints about the monkeys and said the matter requires coordinated action involving the responsible wildlife authorities. Sabila said the district is concerned about the impact of the animals on agricultural production and would engage the relevant authorities to find a lasting solution.
“We acknowledge that we have received these complaints from the affected farmers, and we understand the concern because their crops and livelihoods are being affected. We shall engage the responsible authorities so that the matter can be addressed,” Sabila said. The latest complaints come three years after similar concerns were raised in Barawa, Kapteret and Kapenguria wards. In 2023, farmers reported an invasion by between 30 and 50 monkeys, which they said were destroying crops and banana plantations.
At the time, Mitingi, who was then the LC1 Chairperson of Barawa Cell, said the monkeys had invaded the area in December and were uprooting cassava, potatoes and maize while damaging banana plantations. He estimated that about 100 acres of crops had been destroyed in Kapteret, Kapenguria and Barawa wards.
Jan Musobo, a resident of Green Lodge Cell, said some farmers were becoming reluctant to plant crops because of fears that the monkeys would destroy them.
Another farmer, Tomas Malinga from Kapenguria Ward, warned that continued crop destruction could expose the community to hunger and eventually force residents to take action against the animals. The monkeys are believed to be Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, a primate species associated with forest habitats. Their movement into farmland has increasingly brought them into conflict with communities living near wildlife habitats. The farmers say some residents are now considering using poison to kill the animals, raising concern about the possible impact on other wildlife, livestock and domestic animals that could consume the poisoned bait.
The farmers are instead calling on UWA to capture and relocate the monkeys to a suitable habitat. Bashir Hangi, the UWA Public Relations Officer, said the authority was not aware of the extent of the reported destruction but promised to intervene. “It’s unfortunate that farmers are decrying the destruction of their farms by our animals, but we are going to sort it out. Meanwhile, let them report the cases to the district production office,” Hangi said. However, the farmers say the continued crop raids demonstrate that previous interventions and assurances have failed to provide a lasting solution.
They want UWA and district authorities to assess the extent of the destruction, establish the size and movement of the monkey population and develop a sustainable mechanism to prevent further crop raids-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
