By Flavia Ajok
A 42-year-old woman has been killed by a stray elephant in Buliisa district.
The deceased has been identified as Faling Onee, a resident of Kaboblwa village in Parish, Buliisa sub-county.
Onee went to collect firewood in the nearby bush when she was attacked by the stray elephant that is suspected to have escaped from the Murchison Falls National Park. The residents mounted a search and found her body lying in a pool of blood with multiple injuries on her head, face and stomach.
Kamanda Kabagambe, the Buliisa sub–County LCIII Chairperson, explains that though Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) was notified about the attack and death of the woman, no response has so far been received from them.
Kennedy Oringi, the LCIII Chairperson for Ngwedu sub-county, which is also being affected by the invasion of stray animals, accused UWA of delayed responses to incidents despite repeated complaints.
The death of Onee comes barely a month after another woman identified as Eunice Kutegeka, a resident of Kigoya village in Buliisa sub-county, was also attacked and killed by a stray elephant in February. She was attacked as she had gone to collect firewood near her home.
Her four-year-old grandson, Robert Niwagaba, who was with her at the time, sustained critical injuries to the face, back, chest, and buttocks and is currently receiving treatment at Buliisa General Hospital.
Residents living near Murchison Falls National Park have long protested against the frequent invasions of wild animals, which have resulted in deaths and widespread crop destruction.
In July 2024, farmers in Buliisa Sub-County staged a protest at the sub-county headquarters, demanding compensation for crops lost, injuries sustained and lives lost due to wild animal attacks.
Since 2022, at least 18 people have been killed and numerous others injured by elephants and buffaloes in Buliisa District alone.
