Buliisa cyclist cheats death after elephants attack
He, however, cautions residents against using the road that is a hotspot area for elephants, thus asking them to be vigilant.
Buliisa: Boda Boda cyclist has narrowly escaped death after being attacked by stray herds of elephants in Bugana-Kichooke village in Buliisa Sub County Buliisa District.
The 30-year-old cyclist, only identified as Dancan, who operates at the Bugana Boda Boda stage, was attacked while heading to the Kabolwa landing site from Bugana village.
David Katusiime, the chairperson of LC1 Bugana-Kichooke village, told this publication that loaded with three sacks of charcoal, Dancan was attacked at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
He stresses that the victim, while riding his motorcycle, met herds of stray elephants on the road that were coming from someone`s garden in Bugana village going back into the park.
Katusiime narrated that when the elephants saw him, they attacked him; thus, the victim jumped off the motorcycle and escaped for his life.
The victim survived with minor injuries sustained from thorn tree blockades while escaping, and the motorcycle that was given to him on loan was destroyed beyond repair.
Divaton Tugume, a resident of Bugana-Kichooke, expressed concern over officials attached to the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA) for keeping a deaf ear and a blind eye in addressing community challenges perpetrated by stray wild animals, especially elephants from Murchison Falls National Park.
Kabagambe Kamanda, the Chairperson LC3 Buliisa Sub County, upon hearing the information, immediately rushed to the scene and alerted the relevant authorities.
He, however, cautions residents against using the road that is a hotspot area for elephants, thus asking them to be vigilant.
We couldn’t get a comment from Bishir Hangi, the UWA spokesperson, by press time since he didn’t respond to our repeated phone calls.
Last year, in October, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) announced plans to install 30 kilometers of low-voltage electric fencing in major human-wildlife conflict hotspots within the park. Each kilometer was estimated to cost 50 million shillings.
The fence was intended for areas where trenches are prone to siltation due to flash floods, gully erosion, and elephant activities. However, the actual installation process has delayed to be completed.
For over a decade, wild animals, especially elephants, rhinoceroses, primates, and buffalos, have attacked and killed dozens of residents living near the park.
These animals have also devoured crop gardens, leading to food insecurity and starvation in the district.
In April this year, during the commissioning of Butiaba Health Centre III in Buliisa district, residents asked the prime minister to intervene in the matter.
In response to these concerns, Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister of Uganda, directly addressed Sam Mwandha, the UWA Executive Director, demanding an explanation for the delay in rectifying the electric fence along the park’s borders.
Nabbanja emphasized her frustration with repeatedly answering questions about the delayed fencing both in parliament and during public functions.
In turn, Mwandha assured the people of Buliisa district that the erection of the electric fence would be completed within a three-month period.
He said the ongoing efforts include deploying necessary forces and scouts to elephant-prone areas, in addition to the fence erection.
Last year, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) initiated the erection of an electric fence in Ngwedo Sub County, but up to now, the entire park hasn’t been fenced off.
Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256394700683.
