Fear has engulfed the residents of Kigoro Cell in the Scheme Ward of Nyamwamba Division in Kasese Municipality following the invasion of stray elephants from the National Park in the area.
Despite the intervention of officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the elephants have declined to go back to the National Park.
Some of the residents told the press that the stray elephants were sighted in the maize gardens in the wee hours, forcing them to inform police and UWA officials who tried to shoot in the air to scare away the wild beasts to return to the park but in vain.
Mr. Joseph Bwambale and Ms Juliet Kabugho whose homes are next to the places that the elephants have camped in have appealed to UWA to reinforce its deployment.
According to them, they have also been told by police to vacate their homes until the elephants leave the area.
In a closely related development, one person only identified as Muhammad who was among the residents watching the stray elephants from a distance has been rushed to Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital in Kasese town after being knocked by a speeding vehicle along the Kasese –Fort portal Highway.
According to eyewitness, after the incident the driver took off and later a police van transported the victim to the health facility for medical attention.
ENDS