Stray leopard injures five in Rukungiri

By Caleb Bahikaho

A leopard from Queen Elizabeth National Park injured five people and killed one pig when it strayed into Garuka village in Bwambara sub-county, Rukungiri district on Friday.

Those injured included a game ranger identified as Aggrey Wafura.

The LC5 councillor for Bwambara sub-county, Chris Kagayano, said the animal killed a pig belonging to Turyagyenda Kabariga.

He identified others injured as Julius Kabariga, Moses Kamira, Amos Bindeeba and Turyagenda.

He added that they were rushed to Nyakibale Hospital for treatment.

“Turyagyenda raised an alarm and his neighbours, who had gone to rescue him, were also attacked by the animal,” Kagayano said.

He said this was the first time a leopard was invading the area since they settled there about 20 years ago.

The officer in charge of the park, Gerald Abitegyeka, said: “We got information that the animal had invaded the area and by the time we reached there, it had become uncontrollable because of the dogs that were chasing it and people who were shouting at it. We decided to shoot the animal dead.”

He added that during the dry season, wild animals escape from the park to the villages, where they prey on domestic animals such as goats, sheep and pigs.