A herd of elephants in Kyotera district has attacked and killed a 60-year-old man while searching for his lost cattle.

This incident happened in the wee hours of Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in Kamuganja village, Kakuuto sub-county.

Initial reports indicate that the deceased, identified as Jacob Jura Sengabi, went to a local bar to drink alcohol on November 26, 2024, at around 6:00 pm, and left the bar at around 2:00 am to check on his cattle, which he didn’t find. This prompted him to look for them, and that is where he bumped into the elephants, which killed him.

While speaking to the media, one of the locals, Kirikimu, said that the elephants usually come from Maramagambo Forest, and it is not the first time they are attacking and injuring people.

’’I cannot imagine the pain Sengabi went through because the state in which we found his body was so appalling and heart-wrenching,” he said.

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SP Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka police spokesperson, confirmed this incident and revealed that Sengabi’s body was given to his relatives for burial.

Kasirye condemned Sengabi’s act of drinking alcohol and leaving his cattle unattended, but also moving late to look for them.

“Sengabi’s death is sad, but it also teaches us not to drink on the job because you can easily make a mistake that can cost you your job or life, yet it could have been avoided,’’ he noted.

In 2024, Uganda has seen a troubling increase in elephant attacks, particularly in areas surrounding Murchison Falls National Park.

In October 2024, a 48-year-old woman, Mary Atoo, a resident of Oryebo village in Mamakora sub-county, Kitgum district, died after being trampled by a marauding elephant, which was suspected to have crossed from Kidepo Valley National Park.

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing wildlife conservation with community safety and agricultural needs in Uganda.