Elephant tramples 45-year-old woman to death in Kitgum
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.
According to reports, the three women encountered a lone elephant, which charged at them and began chasing them. (New Vision/Files)
KITGUM - 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.
Okema said police recorded statements from witnesses today, Saturday, and were awaiting responses from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and district security officials.
He said elephant attacks had injured three people in Kiteny subcounty over the past two years.
Okema expressed concern over the growing effects of human-wildlife conflict in the area, while faulting UWA for delays in compensating victims and claimants in his subcounty.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Oguti, the assistant resident district commissioner in charge of Chua East County, said he was leading a security team to visit the affected area.
Last month, the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) deployed a helicopter to drive stray elephants away from community land in Kitgum district.
However, during the operation, some elephants reportedly split into smaller groups of three to four animals. The groups are currently believed to be roaming community land, particularly in Giligili and Morongole, in Namokora North and Kiteny subcounties, respectively.
UWA has attributed the recent increase in human-wildlife conflict to the effects of climate change, saying prolonged dry spells have caused seasonal swamps and vegetation within conservation areas to dry up.
The authority says the situation is forcing wildlife to move beyond protected areas and encroach on community land in search of food and water.
UWA maintains that the most sustainable solution to the problem is the construction of an electric fence along the park boundary to prevent wild animals from crossing into neighbouring communities
However, in Kitgum district, land disputes have reportedly stalled the fencing process, with community members insisting that UWA should erect the electric fence along the park boundary rather than on community land.