Wildfire ravages Nakasongola farms
Residents look at a farm where a wild fire killed six cattle and displaced more than 450 on Saturday. Photo by Dan Wandera
Nakasongola. Wildfires in Nakasongola District have killed more than 10 cows and displaced an estimated 2,000 animals on various farms.
Nakasongola District chairman James Muruuli Wandira said the wildfires have also destroyed acres of soft wood pine forests and food crops, leaving owners devastated.
While the cause of the fire which started at the weekend is not clear, there is growing suspicion that it could be the work of naive hunters or malicious individuals.
“We have tried to sensitise the public on the dangers of bush burning but our campaign is yet to yield fruits as cases of fires are registered every day,” Mr Wandira says.
In one fire, six cows belonging to Mr Hildar Kadala were killed and another 400 animals displaced at his farm located in Kalungi Sub-county last Saturday.
Trees destroyed
The wildfires destroyed more than six acres of pine trees in Migyeera Town Council while the number of destroyed farms is on the increase in the Sub-counties of Kazwama, Kalungi, Kalongo and Kakooge.
“We wonder why people set fire which they cannot control. We are now considering charging all individuals suspected of having lit the fire with malicious damage,” Mr Wandira said.
Background
• In Kalongo Subcounty 300 animals were displaced on a farm owned by Mr Sunday Maiso last week. The fire killed 2 cows while a farm house was burnt.
• At another farm owned by Mr Godfrey Taremwa Kabwama in Kakooge Subounty, more than 380 cows relocated to Kalongo Subcounty by the farm owner.
• Authorities in Nakasongola also suspect that the persons who light the fights are targeting cheap meat since owners scamper to save the surviving one leaving the burnt or dead one to the scavengers.
