KAMPALA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has dispatched a team to capture a reported leopard that has sparked fear among residents in Nakasongola District in central Uganda.
Bashir Hangi, spokesperson for the state-run conservation agency, told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday that the team is already en route to the affected area. "Our team should be on the way to manage the case. Such incidents are not common, especially involving leopards," Hangi said.
The reported presence of the leopard has heightened tensions, with residents voicing concerns over their safety, particularly those engaged in grazing and farming in bushy areas.
Local authorities said the animal has killed one person and critically injured another. Godfrey Lutalo, a local council chairman in Nakitoma Sub-county, said the fatal attack occurred on April 4 while herdsmen were tending cattle.
Lutalo told Xinhua that the animal emerged from a nearby thicket and attacked the group, triggering panic among residents. He added that locals have since organized efforts to track the animal, fearing further attacks as it is believed to still be roaming in nearby bushes.
Human-wildlife conflict remains a persistent challenge in Uganda, particularly in communities bordering conservation areas. Incidents involving fatalities on both sides have been reported.
In a similar case late last month, UWA captured a stray elephant that had alarmed residents in Kahunge and Kamwenge sub-counties in Kamwenge District in western Uganda. ■
