KAYONZA- Eastern Province Governor, Odette Uwamariya, has assured residents of Ndego Sector whose crops were destroyed by animals that they will be compensated.

Some residents neighbouring Akagera National Park have either been injured or killed by stray animals in the past.

According to Uwamariya, the destructions caused by the animals will in the near feature be put to a halt.

She told The Sunday Times that fencing the Park will start between January and February next year.

"Proximity to the park should be a blessing and not a curse...the government is working around the clock to finish the fencing soon. Those injured or affected by the animals in other ways, will be compensated. It is a question of time, which is soon,” she said.

She explained that the fencing was partly delayed by some technicalities involved, such as expropriating farmers to be affected by the fencing.

"The compensation assurances notwithstanding, residents complain that the fencing was taking too long.

Scola Nirere, a resident of Mwurire village, lamented that she was never compensated after a herd of elephants destroyed her two hectares of cassava.

"I can no longer support my family as I should...two out of the six hectares of cassava I had, were destroyed by elephants. This crippled my financial capacity. I was promised compensation but I am still waiting,” she complained.

Beata Mushimiyimana whose husband was killed by a hippo, requested for support from the government.

"After the death of my husband, I had a rough time, no single aid has come my way...even the access I had on the Sector’s direct support for the needy was stopped. I need help,” she pleaded.

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