Uganda plans to fence off its national parks

MURCHISON, UGANDA- Uganda has developed a long term plan to fence off its National parks in a measure to curb human-wildlife conflicts surrounding them.
Uganda's minister of tourism wildlife and heritage Mr. Ephraim Kamuntu, the explained that though this is not a simple task, the government plans to embark on a long term plan to fence off the parks as there are increased cases of animals escaping from the parks, destroying lives and crops of the communities surrounding them.
The communities in retaliation also kill the animals through the use of snail traps or others go into massive poaching.
"In the short term, to mitigate this human-wildlife conflict, we have started digging trenches to prevent the animals from crossing into the gardens of the communities destroying the lives and crops of the people but in the long run with the funds available we shall fence off all the major national parks starting with Murchison Park where rampant damage has been encountered," said Kamuntu.
Kamuntu was speaking during the launch of the Te Bito Top of the falls track on the northern banks of the Murchison Falls National Park, Africa's seventh biggest national park in mass and animal concentration seated on over 4800sq/km of land.
The idea of fencing off national parks in the EAC region started in Kenya, where the Kenya Wildlife Services announced that it had secured funds of up to $12m to fence off Mt. Kenya National Park.
The fencing off of Mt. Kenya National Park followed that of Aberdare National Park, a private initiative by Rhino Ark in Kenya.
The initiative aimed at protecting the animals inside the national park from poaching, the park from encroachment, and the farms around the park from being raided by hungry animals in search of pasture.
The Te Bito Top of the Falls track that was constructed by Uganda oil explorers Tullow Oil, was also done in the spirit of easing the oil exploration and tourism activities as conflicts were also emerging from both sectors.
Most of Uganda's oil exploration wells are located in major national parks, with some tourism tracks/circuits facing closure or disruption, which could chase away animals hence failure for tourists to view animals or enjoy their game drives.
"We the private sector wanted communication. We're not against oil exploration but we also look at how the two sectors can co-exist.
“One sector is an infinite sector while the other is not," notes Amos Wekesa the president of the Uganda Tourist Association (UTA).
In 2008, tour operators, conservationists, Lodge and hotel owners were at war with oil exploration companies as it emerged that the oil exploration activities in the park was disrupting that of tourism.
It was chasing away animals as a result of noise and increased human activities in the park.
This came as a result of the oil companies proposing the closure of the Buligi Circuit in the Delta region to allow smooth oil exploration which angered the tour operators.
"This new track will work along with all the tracks in the park. No track will be closed even that of Buligi," assured Ms Cathy Adengo, the Tullow Uganda Communications officer.
The Buligi track, on the southern banks of the Murchison Falls National park, has several oil wells that may either disrupt tourism activities through the construction of the small field pipelines or chase away animals due to increased noise.
This may leave the tour operators with no option but to use the northern route Te Bito Top of the Falls track that was closed in the 1980's due to the Joseph Kony rebellion.
Mr. Eion Mickie, the Tullow Oil general manager said the company spent about $200,000 in the construction of the 18.5km tourist track that will provide an alternative game drive route through the national, giving tourists an opportunity to appreciate the vast collection of animals and plants in the Te Bito plains.
Tourism is a key sector in which the country expects to get more foreign exchange income.