More than 200 elephants have forced residents of four villages in Lamwo district to flee their homes and seek refuge at a local primary school after destroying crops and threatening human safety for nearly two weeks.

The affected residents from Popany, Odiaoket, Okol and Kirombe villages in Madi Opei sub-county have taken shelter at Wanglango Primary School in Okol parish as the elephants continue to roam the area.

The invasion has disrupted normal community life, with families facing uncertainty over their safety, food supplies and when they can return home.

Lamwo district Woman MP Nancy Acora Odonga raised the matter in Parliament, appealing to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to intervene urgently to protect residents.

Acora said some families had been fleeing their homes at night because of fears of encountering the elephants.

“The community has even shifted. They are sleeping at Wanglango Primary School. My humble plea is to the Ministry of Tourism, through UWA, to make immediate interventions,” she said.

She acknowledged efforts by Uganda People’s Defence Forces personnel at Bana Bana Barracks to address the situation but warned that the elephants continued to pose a threat to residents.

Although no deaths had been reported in the district at the time of the appeal, the continued presence of the animals has heightened fears of possible attacks.

Abdallah Juma Jalle, the LC3 chairperson of Madi Opei Town Council, and Felix Lawii Nyero, the LCIII chairperson of Madi Opei sub-county, confirmed the incident.

The local leaders said the invasion had created serious challenges for residents, including the destruction of crops, displacement of families and fears over personal safety.

Their concerns centre on the need for a sustained response that will allow residents to return home without being exposed to further danger.

The displacement has also raised concerns about children’s education, as families sheltering at Wanglango Primary School face uncertainty over how long they will remain away from their homes and usual routines.

UWA moves to drive elephants away

Dr Eric Enyel, the Uganda Wildlife Authority manager for the Kidepo Conservation Area, confirmed the incident, saying wildlife officers had been deployed to the field to drive the elephants back towards the park.

The intervention comes as residents await a lasting solution to the recurring challenge of elephants entering communities bordering wildlife habitats.

While driving the animals away may ease the immediate threat, the destruction of gardens and displacement of households could leave affected families struggling to meet their basic needs.

Acora also appealed to the Office of the Prime Minister to provide food relief, saying the affected households had lost crops at a time when a prolonged dry spell had already placed pressure on livelihoods across the Acholi sub-region.

She said she intended to write jointly to the Office of the Prime Minister with Lamwo County legislator Johnson Nyeko to seek assistance for the affected residents.

The appeal for relief highlights the additional burden on households whose crops have been destroyed and whose access to their homes and gardens has been disrupted.

Communities seek lasting protection

The incident has renewed concerns about human-wildlife conflict in areas bordering protected wildlife habitats, where elephants can destroy food crops, damage property and threaten human life.

For the displaced households, the immediate priorities are to ensure that the elephants are moved away safely, secure food assistance and establish whether their homes and gardens are safe to return to.

The district authorities and UWA also face the challenge of preventing further incursions and reducing the risk of future encounters between people and wildlife.

Ogwang Peter, a resident of Madi Opei sub-county, said that residents need clear guidance from wildlife officers on when it is safe to return home, while affected households may require an assessment of crop losses to determine the extent of the damage.

The response by UWA and the proposed request for food relief are expected to be central to efforts to help the affected families resume normal life.