A 45-year-old woman has been killed by a stray elephant in Kiteny subcounty, Kitgum district, in the latest incident of human-wildlife conflict in the area.
The deceased has been identified as Agness Aciro, a resident of Labongopii village in Kiteny subcounty.
The incident reportedly occurred on November 6, 2026, at around 5:00 pm, as Aciro was returning home to Morongole with two other women. The trio had attended a burial in Ladotonen village, also in Kiteny subcounty.
According to reports, the three women encountered a lone elephant, which charged at them and began chasing them.
Aciro reportedly raised an alarm, prompting the elephant to turn its attention to her and leave the other two women. The animal then trampled her to death at the scene.
Rising Human-Wildlife Conflict
This incident highlights the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict in Kitgum and other parts of Uganda, where elephants and other wild animals stray into communities, leading to loss of life and property.
Local authorities have repeatedly called for measures to mitigate these conflicts, including better land-use planning and community awareness programs. However, residents in affected areas continue to live in fear as they go about their daily activities.
The latest tragedy has left the community in mourning and raised questions about the effectiveness of existing strategies to protect both people and wildlife.
Wildlife experts suggest that as human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, such encounters are likely to increase unless proactive measures are taken. These include creating wildlife corridors, installing early warning systems, and compensating affected communities.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has been contacted for comment on the incident and on efforts to address the recurring problem.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been taken for a postmortem examination as investigations into the incident continue.
