The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is preparing to install a six-kilometre electric fence around a hotspot in Lodwar Village, Akurumor Parish, Orom Sub- County, Kitgum District.
The chief warden of Kidepo Valley National Park, Dr Eric Engel, said the electric fence is aimed at preventing elephants from invading settlements and destroying crops
Engel said fencing is expected to commence on Friday, and all the work is expected to last about two months.
The project will target areas between two hills identified as elephant crossing points.
He said the work would involve clearing vegetation, marking the fence route, erecting poles, and installing equipment. The terrain and possible swamp crossings are likely to affect the pace of construction.
He said the fence would form part of UWA’s efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict by blocking routes used by elephants to enter communities.
Engel said the authority was prioritising areas where elephants frequently cross rather than attempting to fence off the entire park boundary, citing the high cost of installation.
According to him, installing one kilometre of electric fence costs approximately about sixty million shillings. He estimated that the project will cost 360 million shillings.
The project has faced resistance from some residents who reportedly fear that the fence could be used to alter or extend protected-area boundaries and take away community land.
Engel dismissed the concerns, insisting that the electric fence was intended to protect crops and livelihoods rather than change land boundaries.
“The purpose of the electric fence is purely to protect crops and livelihoods, protecting the community. It is not for boundary tracing,” he said.
He argued that changes to legally established boundaries could not be made unilaterally by a park chief warden, saying such changes would require the relevant government procedures.
Engel said UWA had engaged district leaders and security officials to explain the project, but resistance persisted among some communities.
He called on the media and local leaders to help explain the purpose of the fence and address residents’ concerns.
Engel said the fencing programme would also create employment opportunities for residents, particularly young people, who would be recruited as casual labourers during construction.
He added that UWA intended to recruit local workers to help maintain the fence after installation, potentially creating longer-term employment opportunities.
The authority also plans to deploy rangers and community wildlife scouts to respond when elephants breach the fence or when electrical faults compromise its effectiveness.
Engel said the fence would include gates to allow residents to access land on the other side.
He acknowledged that electric fencing could not eliminate every risk, noting that power failures, equipment breakdowns or elephants breaking through the barrier could still occur.
In such cases, rangers and scouts would be expected to respond and help drive the animals away before the damaged section was repaired.
Engel said resistance in some areas could force the authority to redirect its work to communities willing to accept the project while concerns elsewhere were addressed.
He cited ongoing disagreements in Tikao, where, according to him, residents had raised objections linked to fears that the fence would affect their boundary in Tikao.
He said the matter had been referred to Parliament for consideration and that UWA would proceed to other areas, including parts of Agago and Orom, depending on community acceptance.
Engel also pointed to fencing work in Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area, saying approximately 65 to 70 per cent of the work there had been completed and that communities along the route had responded positively.
He expressed hope that the Lodwar project and other planned sections would be completed within the coming months, allowing farmers to resume their activities with improved protection against elephants.
The proposed installation comes amid efforts to find lasting solutions to human-wildlife conflict, which can threaten food security, household incomes and the safety of communities living near wildlife habitats.
Jimmy Segawa Ebil, the RDC of Kitgum, said the project is being supported by the UPDF, which will provide security for workers and equipment during construction.
Ebil said the operation and fencing project are part of ongoing efforts to address human-elephant conflict in northern Uganda, where wildlife incursions have threatened livelihoods through crop destruction and posed risks to residents. Ebil added that authorities are expected to continue working with wildlife officials and security personnel to contain the animals-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
