By Emmanuel Okol
The Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, Rt. Maj Jessica Alupo Epel has asked the authorities of Uganda wildlife Authority to come up with plans of compensating individuals who have lost their goats and sheep.
Alupo made the pronouncement on 3.11.2023 while commiserating with the people who lost their animals in Africa village in Getom Sub County.
The Vice President also donated Shs9,880,000 as Woman Member of Parliament for Katakwi district. Each goat and sheep is costed at 130,000.
The beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in the villages of Getom Sub County, Katakwi district are in tears after wolves invaded their homes and killed 31 goats and 35 sheep in various households.
The most affected villages that have been terrorized for three months now include Moru b village, akide Village, Getom Village, paliakol Village, and Africa Village with residents living in fear of both their lives and the animals.
She urged Uganda Wild Authorities to handle the issue of compensation towards 76 families who have lost their sheep and goats in Getom Sub County by wolves.
Josephine Akoluot of Akide Village who has lost three PDM sheep says the wolf which closely looks like a dog has terrorized homes in the parishes of aboiboi and Abela killing the animals then sucks blood leaving the meat.
“We do not know where the wolf lives, it has terrorized us for three months now, you will be shocked to wake up to find your sheep and goat are dead, when you check the footmarks they resemble that of a dog,” said Akoluot.
Akoluot confirmed that she is not alone saying many are affected, in a home behind moru b 7 sheep were killed, Asio lost 8 sheep and 7 goats in aboiboi parish.
The LC1 chairman Moru B village Abela, George Arwaitum who named a few of the households in his village that have been attacked by the wolves said his office has been stuck with cases of false allegation where some peoples dogs were accused for preying on the sheep.
“When a dog is found eating the dead meat, the owner of the sheep in the morning in most cases accuses the owners of the dogs, which is false” he said.
Arwaitum adds that the wolf sucks the blood and eats the heart and kidneys, naming Ikilai Betty who lost 7 goats, Aanyu 2sheep and Apolot grace 7sheep.
Another PDM Beneficiary Asege Winnie who lost 7 goats in Africa village, Abela Parish said 4 goats were bought using PDM money.
“I noticed it was a wolf after checking the footsteps, they looked like for the dog, and the lifeless goats lacked any blood the wolf sucked it all,” she said.
Ojur Richard said 10 sheep have been killed in Ajesai village.
“Six of my goats that I bought using PDM money have been killed by the wolf, it eats the heart, intestines and kidneys,” said Ojur.
Ojur adds that in the neighbouring village of Getom, 5 sheep were killed among them two were bought using PDM money.
Katakwi District Local Government in June 2023 disbursed PDM funds to beneficiaries in 109 parishes across 20 sub counties.
In a function presided over by the VP at the district headquarters in Ngariam sub county, on June 23, 2023, over 120 million shillings was disbursed.
Security angle
The Resident District Commissioner Katakwi, Maj Godfrey Katamba noted that the wolves are still destroying animals from Moru Apesur, Africa, Abela in Getom sub county Katakwi district.
“As security department we have registered deaths of more than 10 sheep and goats in two days after the visit of the vice president,” Katamba says.
He therefore asks the local authorities and community plus UWA officials to coordinate together for the easy trapping of these dangerous animals.
What the Leaders say
The lc1 chairman of Moru B village Abela, George Arwaitum says all the goats and sheep killed in his village were bought using PDM money.
Arwaitum has appealed to the government to task Uganda WildLife Authority (UWA) to pay damages caused by their wild animals since most of the sheep and goats were bought using PDM money.
“Let the government engage Uganda Wildlife Authority, these are their animals, how are very poor to pay what did not benefit them,” said arwaitum.
The LC3 Getom Sub County David Eilor confirmed the presence of wolves in his Subcounty.
He said most of the animals killed were bought using PDM funds.
“The wolf eats mostly sheep, I tried talking to UWA but they also asked me where the animal lives which I can’t locate, I appeal to the government to help those whose animals were bought using PDM funds to be compensated.” Said Eilor.
Eilor on 4/11/2023 in an interview at Getom Moru Apesur village said so far his office has registered over 200 goats and sheep lost by the community through this dangerous animal.
The LCV District councillor Getom, Papa Pastor Gimmy Okello in an interview also confirmed to this website that in most villages, the sheep and goats killed were those bought using PDM money.
“I appeal to UWA to come for their animals, this animal has given us a loss, it has disturbed us with lots of damage, it eats intestines leaving the meat,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson LCV Katakwi district Godfrey Omolo in an interview with our reporter urged the UWA team to come up with possible ways of handling and removing their animals before things worsen.
UWA comment
However James Okuare, UWA senior officer Pian Upe Game Reserve appealed the community to be calm as UWA is taking action and filing reports towards lost sheep and goats for easy compensation.
Okuare during exclusive interviews with our reporter assured the population of total support and asked them to get connected with UWA officials for easy compilation of the information.
“We have already printed the forms and the individuals who have lost their animals will fill them with the support of the Chairman LC1 and stamped with his stamp for easy verification,” Okuare said.
He added that as a team from UWA, they have come with a trap that is going to be used for trapping these animals and asked the general public to keep their remaining animals and stay away from the trap.
“As we’re talking, we have managed to deploy three officers from Pien Upe Game reserve to camp here in Getom Sub County for a good time” Okuare adds.
