A“While it is true that we have driven 400 elephants back into the protected reserves, there is still adanger posed to humans.” -Jimmy Ssegawa Ebill, Kitgum Resident District Administrator
31-year-old man was injured by an elephant in Kitgum morning, highlighting the continuing threat posed by stray wildlife despite aoperan tion that has driven 400 elephants back into protected areas.
The man, identified as Kalokwera, was attacked at about 4am in Ceylon West village, Luganyura Parish, Orom sub county, after attempting to scare away elephants by beating jerrycans, according to C Jimmy Segawa Ebil.
Kitgum Resident District COmmissioner JImmy Ssegawa Ebill said the victim was concentrating on an elephant in front of him when another elephant approached from behind and attacked him.
“When he saw elephants, he wanted to drive them away by beating jerrycans, but unknown to him, there was an elephant next close to him and while he was concentrating on the one that he was in front, one emerged from behind and injured him,” Ebil said.
He said the victim is admitted at Namokora Health Centre IV and is getting treatment. “He is steady, and we have not received information yet that indicates that his condition is not manageable,” Ebil said.
The incident comes about one month after local authorities launched Operation Safe Corridor, a joint effort by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to drive elephants out of human settlements in Kitgum and back into protected areas, including Kidepo Valley Conservation Area.
Ebil said the operation had been largely successful, with approximately 400 elephants driven out of the district in the first three to four weeks. He credited the UPDF for providing helicopters and ground personnel to support efforts to move the animals away from communities. However, Ebil says that some elephants continued to stray into settlements, destroying crops and injuring residents.
“While it is true that we have even driven away 400, it is still a problem and a challenge to our district,” he said. “We continue appealing to Uganda Wildlife Authority that we work in collaboration to make sure that we drive away these elephants.”
The latest injury also prompted renewed warnings to residents against attempting to confront elephants without assistance from wildlife authorities. Ebil urged communities to avoid trying to drive away the animals on their own, warning that elephants can be extremely dangerous when provoked.
“Again, we want to appeal to the community that even when you see the elephants, don’t think that you can drive them away alone. they are very dangerous, especially when provoked,” Ebil warned.
At least three people have been killed by elephants in Kitgum in the past year, while others had been injured. Elephants also continue destroying crops, threatening livelihoods in affected communities. Endshants in Kitgum in the past year, while others had been injured. The elephants have also continued destroying crops, threatening food security and livelihoods in affected communities-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
