Exploring Human - Wildlife Conflicts through the Livelihoods Framework in Nwoya District
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Date
2026-09-14
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Gulu University
Abstract
This study conducts a detailed evaluation of human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) in the Lii subcounty of Nwoya District, with the goal of understanding the impacts of these conflicts,
measuring the effectiveness of mitigation strategies, and assessing community involvement and policy execution; employing a cross-sectional methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research reveals that HWC is an extensive issue affecting nearly all surveyed households, predominantly driven by problematic encounters with elephants, leading to substantial economic setbacks, including an average 75% decrease in annual crop yields and a 60% drop in household income, with potential financial losses reaching UGX 40,000,000 yearly. Moreover, these conflicts significantly undermine all five capital assets of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, causing deep psychosocial impacts like chronic stress and fear reminiscent of the LRA insurgency. Although households implement various strategies to deter wildlife, their effectiveness is often viewed as limited, especially as elephants adapt to traditional deterrents. A significant finding is the pervasive dissatisfaction with current HWC management, fueled by a sense of exclusion from decision making and inadequate governmental or NGO support. This frustration is exacerbated by a lack of feedback on reported incidents, intensifying the belief that the government prioritizes wildlife over human welfare. The study calls for urgent, sustainable solutions that prioritize genuine community engagement and address underlying issues such as incomplete fencing and habitat destruction to achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.
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Keywords
Human-wildlife conflicts, economic losses, psychosocial stress, mitigation strategies, community involvement, policy implementation