SFG TO PLAY WILDLIFE’S ROLE IN COMPENSATION

The cases of 357 victims whose property and lives have been affected by wildlife have handed over to the Special Guarantee Fund (SGF) BY THE Rwanda Development Board. The people that have been highly affected have been those that live near Akagera National Park, followed by those near Nyungwe Park then those near Virunga Park.

These cases include those that have suffered from financial loss because of the physical damage of crops, property, livestock and death of family members as a result of animal attacks.

The Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, Rica Rwigamba has passed the files to the Director General of SGF, Bernardin Ndayishimye.The main reason is to stop human-wildlife conflicts. The government has set up the compensation fund to react to the needs of communities whose properties and lives have been affected by wildlife.

SFG will be funded 5% of the profits got from tourism revenues but Ndayishimye said RDB will provide the funds for the compensation to begin.

SFG will make sure all locals that report cases to the officials are investigated and compensated. The date the funds will be released has not yet been mentioned but the process is still going on and the money will be presented to the body as soon as possible.

RDB has tried to prevent these conflicts by fencing the parks   like Akagera Park which will end in December 2012.

UGANDA SAFARI NEWS