Stray elephant kills 45-year-old man in Kanungu
Elephants graze in Murchision Falls National Park in May. Authorities at Orom prison in Kitgum District are counting losses after a herd of stray elephants destroyed several acres of crops in the facility’s farm. PHOTO/ TOBBIAS JOLLY OWINY
What you need to know:
- The victim found the elephant destroying the garden, and it is alleged that he tried to chase it away, and in a fit of rage, the elephant attacked and killed him on spot
A stray elephant from Queen Elizabeth National Park has trampled and killed a 45-year-old man in Kihihi Sub County, Kanungu District.
The victim, Albert Nagaba, met a tragic end on Wednesday morning (February 19, 2025) as he visited his tomato garden in Kyenyabutongo village, Kibimbiri parish.
He found the elephant destroying the garden, and it is alleged that he tried to chase it away, and in a fit of rage, the elephant attacked and killed him on spot.
According to the LCIII chairman for Kihihi sub-county, Mr Nelson Natukunda, the elephant likely strayed from the national park due to gaps in the recently erected electric fence, particularly in areas like roads and parts of Rukungiri district that border the park.
Mr Natukunda appealed to the government to set up ranger posts in these open areas to prevent animal invasions and extend the electric fence towards the park border in Rukungiri.
"We believe that the elephants strayed from Queen Elizabeth national park... We appeal to the government to set up ranger posts in such open areas to curb animal invasions in communities and also extend the electric fence towards the park border in Rukungiri," he said.
This incident is not an isolated one as in the last two years, three people have been killed by elephants straying from Queen Elizabeth National Park, while others have survived with injuries.
Several crop gardens worth millions of shillings have been destroyed by these wild animals, prompting concerns that affected communities may resort to trapping and killing them if the government fails to intervene.
However, the Uganda Wildlife Authority communications manager, Mr Bashir Hangi, warned against such actions, emphasising that killing wild animals is a serious offense with harsh consequences.
"We sympathise with those who have lost properties and their dear ones, but trapping and killing wild animals is a serious offense and the consequences to the offenders are harsh. We appeal to the affected people to be patient because the government is doing all it can to complete the electric fence so that the problem is completely solved," he said.
Hangi also assured that the issue of compensating victims is not negotiable, and the authority will verify each instance and generate a file before providing compensation.
