Elephant kills charcoal burner inside Murchison Falls park
On April 4, 2026, at approximately 8:00 pm, as the trio was returning, they encountered an elephant that chased them. Mutoro was trampled and died on the spot, while the other two men managed to escape.
Solomon Mugisa, the regional Liaisons officer Albertine North. (Courtesy)
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A 45-year-old charcoal burner, Paul Mutoro, a resident of Kihora Village in Kyakende Sub-county, has been killed by an elephant after allegedly entering Murchison Falls National Park illegally.
According to residents, Mutoro, along with Amos Omuga, 44, and Gibson Lyakenyi, 40, had entered the park to collect charcoal they had allegedly burned.
On April 4, 2026, at approximately 8:00 pm, as the trio was returning, they encountered an elephant that chased them. Mutoro was trampled and died on the spot, while the other two men managed to escape.
Efforts to reach Wilson Kagoro, the Uganda Wildlife Authority conservation officer attached to the park, for comment were unsuccessful.
However, Solomon Mugisa, the Albertine Region community liaison officer, confirmed the incident, saying that police visited the scene and transported the body to Kiryandongo Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Mugisa also confirmed that the two survivors have been arrested and are currently held at Kiryandongo Central Police Station.
"They are expected to be arraigned in court to face charges of illegal entry into the national park," he said.
Mugisa urged community members to refrain from illegal activities such as charcoal burning, deforestation and poaching within protected areas, emphasising the significant contribution of wildlife to tourism and the national economy.
He further advised community members to access the park legally, accompanied by authorised rangers, and to support conservation efforts for future generations.