A 26-year-old man has been shot dead in Mount Elgon National Park in Bukwo District in an incident involving Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers, sparking anger among residents and renewing concerns over longstanding conflicts between communities and wildlife authorities.
The deceased, identified as Prokos Kiplangat, a peasant farmer and resident of Cheptoror Village in Kapsarur Sub-county, was reportedly grazing cattle inside the protected area when rangers on patrol encountered him on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Moses Mwanga, the Kapsarur Sub-county LCIII Chairperson, said the rangers were conducting a routine patrol inside the park from the Bukwo side when they encountered the group.
“Kiplangat was shot in the chest and died as residents attempted to rush him to Bukwo General Hospital for treatment” Mwanga told URN
Mwanga condemned the shooting and urged UWA to respect the rule of law, arguing that the rangers should have apprehended the alleged trespassers instead of resorting to firearms.
He called for investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ensure that those found responsible are held accountable.
Fredmark Chesang, the Sipi Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said police were investigating the incident to establish the circumstances that led to Kiplangat’s death.
“Police detectives visited the scene, recorded statements from the deceased’s relatives and other witnesses” he said.
According to Chesang, Investigators are also expected to establish the motive for the shooting and determine whether the use of force was justified.
However, Bashir Hangi, the UWA spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
Hangi said the rangers acted in self-defense after one of the people they encountered allegedly threatened to attack an officer with a panga.
“It’s true and so unfortunate. Meanwhile, the rangers were taking on self-defense after the suspect was having a panga and wanted to cut one of the rangers,” Hangi said.
He urged communities living around the national park to remain law-abiding and cooperate with wildlife officers in protecting the park and its wildlife.
Hangi said the national park is a restricted area and that access is prohibited without authorisation from UWA.
Sam Masai a resident of Kapsarur and an eye witness narrates that, following the shooting, angry residents reportedly carried Kiplangat’s body to the Resident District Commissioner’s office in Bukwo, where some were armed with stones and sticks, heightening tensions over the incident.
“The body was later retrieved and taken to Bukwo General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination” He narrated.
The incident comes amid longstanding tensions between communities living near Mount Elgon National Park and UWA over access to land, park boundaries and restrictions on activities such as grazing.
For more than a decade, disputes between residents and wildlife authorities over the park boundary and access to resources have reportedly contributed to confrontations, including incidents involving deaths and displacement-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
