Elephant Kills Rice Farmer in Kasese

Emmanuel Kiiza, 34, was guarding his rice farm at night when a herd of elephants at attacked at around 2am

A tragic incident unfolded in Bigando Village, Kitswamba Sub-county, Kasese District, when a rice farmer was fatally attacked by an elephant.

Emmanuel Kiiza 34, was attacked by the largest land animal at 2am as he guarded his four-acre rice farm.

Originally from Kanyatsi village in Kitholhu sub-county, Kiiza had relocated to Bigando in search of better farming opportunities.

Ms Bridget Molly, a fellow farmer, recounted the terrifying events, noting that a herd of elephants, including calves, had wandered into the community from Kibale National Park.

"It was at night when we heard a herd of elephants, including young ones, which shortly attacked Kiiza, resulting in his unfortunate death," Molly said.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

This incident is the latest in a series of human-wildlife conflicts plaguing the region.

Local leaders report that at least ten people have been killed or injured by wild animals escaping from Kibale National Park in recent years.

Farmers are increasingly calling for urgent intervention from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the government, particularly the construction of an electric fence along the park’s boundaries.

While an electric fence covering 75% of the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area has drastically reduced such incidents since 2015, Kibale National Park remains unfenced, leaving communities like Bigando vulnerable.

“This is not just about protecting crops; it’s about saving lives,” Molly said.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has acknowledged the urgent need for measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, but compensation for victims of such attacks has been slow.

Many affected families struggle without adequate support.

The tragic death of Emmanuel Kiiza underscores the need for immediate action to protect lives and livelihoods.

As pressure mounts, residents hope the government will respond swiftly to address the escalating conflict between humans and wildlife.