The Effectiveness of Local Strategies for Managing Human Wildlife Conflicts around Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda

Abstract

The study sought to assess the effectiveness of strategies for managing human wild life conflicts. The study was guided by the following objectives which were to: investigate the local strategies used to mitigate HWC, assess the effectiveness of the local strategies used in this area to cope with HWC and suggest ways of improving the local strategies to effectively mitigate HWC. The study used simple random sampling to select respondents from three parishes of Kichwamba community out of five parishes. Both open and closed ended questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Data were gathered through direct verbal interaction with participants instead of written responses. The data collected were edited for accuracy, uniformity, consistency, completeness and arranged to enable coding and tabulation before final analysis, It was found out that the most known local strategy is land demarcation by fencing and the least known being use of hot chili .The study also shows that the most effective local strategy is land demarcation by fencing . However the gaps for improvement exist. Most of the people suggested that the most effective way of improving local strategies is through embarking on electric fencing which is a new initiative in the area. It was recommended that the ministry of tourism should set up standards for managing tourism firms and communities and this will lay streamline management strategies that will reduce conflicts between wildlife and the community. The management of Queen Elizabeth National Park should set up working conditions that help in management of relationship with their communities because conflicts among communities affect the survival of the tourism business in the national park. The community should have a close relationship with the Queen Elizabeth National Park and this will improve their welfare and livelihood improvement.