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By Alex Pithua
A Boda-Boda cyclist narrowly escaped death after he was attacked by stray herds of elephant in Bugana-Kichooke village, Buliisa Sub County Buliisa District.
The 30-year-old cyclist, only identified as Dancan, operates from Bugana Boda-Boda stage. The animals attacked him whilst heading to Kabolwa landing site from Bugana village. The herds of elephant were reported to have strayed in the community from Murchison Falls National Park.
David Katusiime, the chairperson LC1 Bugana- Kichooke village, says the incident happened at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Katusiime narrated that the highly charged elephants quickly ran towards him but he jumped off the motorcycle running for his life.
Dancan, survived with minor injuries sustained from thorn tree blockades while escaping, and the agitated elephants dismantled the motorcycle he borrowed on loan beyond repair, Katusime revealed during an interview.
Divaton Tugume, a resident of Bugana-Kichooke, expressed concern over officials attached to the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA) for keeping a deaf ear and a blind eye in addressing community challenges exacerbated by stray wild animals, especially elephants from Murchison Falls National Park.
Kabagambe Kamanda, the Chairperson LCIII Buliisa Sub County, who rushed to the scene advised the locals to abstain from using the road that is a hotspot area for elephants along the National park.
When Contacted Bashir Hangi, the UWA communication manager didn’t respond to our repeated phone calls by press time.
Notwithstanding efforts to fence them, Most National parks are unfenced in Uganda , and with more animals living outside the reserves than within, human- wildlife conflict that results in injury or deaths are so rife.
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