By Spy Uganda
A tragic incident occurred in Hima Division, Kasese District, on January 10, 2025, where a 34-year-old man, Kiiza Emmanuel, lost his life while attempting to protect a rice garden from stray elephants. Kiiza, a casual worker at Link Buses in Kasese, was guarding the farm with a colleague, Mughulha Sidyalana Johnson, when they encountered the herd of elephants.
According to SP Nelson Tumushime the police spokesperson Kasese, the incident took place at approximately 3:00 AM in Kayanja III Village, Hima Division.
According to him, the two men were guarding the rice garden during the night when three elephants charged at them. While Mughulha managed to escape, Kiiza was unable to evade the attack and was fatally injured. His body was later recovered by the police and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) personnel, who responded promptly to the scene. ”The body was transported to Kasese Municipal Health Centre III for postmortem before being handed over to the family for a proper burial.”
“This is not the first incident of wildlife causing harm to local residents. In 2022, an elephant killed a 27-year-old man, Tadeo Tumwesigye, in Karusandara Sub-county, and in 2023, another elephant attack in Hima Division claimed the life of 33-year-old Mugisha Yoram,” Tumushime said.
The Kasese District area, located near the Queen Elizabeth National Park, has seen several such incidents in recent years, as wild animals, especially elephants, wander into nearby villages in search of food, often leading to fatal confrontations with locals.
As investigations continue, authorities have urged residents to stay vigilant and report any sightings of stray wildlife to prevent further casualties. The community remains deeply concerned about the safety of local farmers and workers who face the constant threat of wildlife encroaching into their agricultural land.
