After months of roaming farmland and damaging crops in Kamwenge District, a stray elephant has finally been captured and relocated to Kibale National Park, bringing relief to local communities.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) confirmed on Tuesday that its team safely sedated the bull elephant, estimated at 20 years old and weighing 3,496 kilograms, fitted it with a GPS collar for monitoring, and released it in Kibale National Park.
The operation is being hailed as a major success for both community safety and wildlife conservation.
“After days of tracking and dramatic encounters, a dedicated team of UWA safely sedated a bull elephant weighing 3,496 kilograms, estimated to be 20 years old, fitted it with a GPS collar for monitoring, and finally released it successfully in Kibale National Park,” the statement read.
The authority added that the relocation marks “a major win for community safety and wildlife conservation.”
The elephant, believed to have strayed from Kibale National Park on September 27, 2025, had roamed several parts of Kamwenge District, sparking fear among residents.
In February, locals from Kahunge and Kamwenge raised alarm over the animal’s presence, citing destruction of crops and the risk it posed to human life.
The most affected areas included Nyabishekye Village in Mpanga Parish, Mbuka II near River Mpanga, and parts of Kahunge Sub-county. Residents reported that the elephant destroyed banana plantations, maize fields, and cassava gardens—key sources of food and household income.
Local leaders said the prolonged presence of the animal heightened fears of food shortages and increased tension within the affected communities.
The successful relocation is expected to restore calm, allowing residents to resume daily activities without fear, while authorities continue to monitor the elephant using the GPS collar.
