Persistent elephant attacks trigger calls for urgent action in Karenga

11 August 2026, 11:26 am

By Alexander Mackey Okori

Karamoja: Karenga District leaders have demanded urgent government action to address persistent cases of human-wildlife conflict following a series of deadly elephant attacks that have left many families grieving.

The sub-counties of Kapedo, Naopore, Lobalangit, Kakwanga, Sangar, Karenga, Kawalakol and Lokori are among the most affected areas due to their proximity to Kidepo Valley National Park.

The leaders said several people have been killed while others are nursing serious injuries in hospitals after being attacked by elephants from Kidepo Valley National Park.

The most recent incident occurred on Thursday, 23 July 2026, when 30-year-old Lolemu Mzee, a resident of Lopet Village in Sarachom Parish, Lobalangit Sub-county, was attacked and killed by a stray elephant.

Denis Ilukol Lokuda, the LC3 Chairperson of Lobalangit Sub-county, said the deceased had gone to check on his maize garden in Kachom Village when he was reportedly attacked by an enraged elephant at around 5pm.

According to Ilukol, Lolemu’s lifeless body was found the following morning by local residents and taken to Karenga Health Centre IV by police and UPDF personnel for a post-mortem examination, pending burial.

Despite the park being a key source of revenue for the district and the Government, Genesis Abara, the LC3 Chairperson of Kakwanga Sub-county, said elephants and buffaloes have caused more harm than good.

“I have received a series of complaints about elephants crossing from the park and destroying people’s crops. Some people have been killed, while farmers have stopped going to their gardens for fear of being attacked by marauding elephants,” Abara said.

Meanwhile, Paul Lopeyok, the LCV Chairperson of Karenga District, said Lolemu was the fifth person to be killed by elephants in the area since the beginning of this year.

However, this claim could not be independently verified by this publication by the time of filing this story.

“Several people have died instantly, while others have died while receiving treatment in hospitals. As leaders, we have reported numerous incidents involving stray elephants and buffaloes to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), but officials tell us to encourage local communities to coexist with wildlife,” Lopeyok said.

He attributed the increasing elephant incursions to the prolonged drought, which has forced the animals out of the park into neighbouring communities in search of water and pasture.

“The drought that began in mid-May and has persisted has disrupted wildlife habitats, pushing animals into nearby villages, where they destroy people’s property and kill people,” Lopeyok added.

He appealed to the Government to expedite the construction of an electric fence around Kidepo Valley National Park.

When contacted, one of the rangers, who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press, acknowledged the presence of elephants in the area.

He said rangers were working with community members to drive the elephants back into the park.

However, he cautioned the public against attacking elephants whenever they are spotted in the area, noting that doing so could provoke the animals and lead to attacks.