Residents of Kobushera and Rwabaragi villages, Rwabaragi parish, Mpeefu Sub County in Kagadi district have killed a stray lion and scrambled for its meat.
The lion, which had invaded the villages and injured multiple persons, was shot dead by a UPDF soldier, according to the statement issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Earlier, reports indicated that a man in Kagadi had killed a lion with his bare hands.
Photos shared on social media showed a tiny man with injuries sustained from the lion’s attack.
However, UWA said the lion was taken out of action by the military.
UWA disclosed that at 11:30am on Friday April 8 2022, it’s team at Kibale National Park received information from the District Police Commander (DPC) Kagadi regarding a lion in Kobushera village that had killed a number of livestock and was confirmed to have been seen by a number of people.
UWA’s staff at Muhoro satellite outpost linked up with the police at midday before traveling to Rwabaragi village/parish, Mpeefu Sub County, Kagadi District where the lion was last sighted about 30 KM from Muhoro Town Council.
“Our objective was to assess the situation with a view of capturing the lion and translocating it to a protected area,” said UWA.
However, upon reaching Rwabaragi, UWA officials and police found a crowd of communities who were already searching for the lion with sharp tools and objects, including machetes, spears and big sticks because it had already injured three people in the area.
“The lion was already stressed and enraged by the presence and noise of a huge crowd that was following the lion with intention to kill it,” said UWA.
“Communities were asked to give way and let our staff and police handle the problem animal together with four community members, but instead more and more crowds gathered due to the noise and alarm that was being raised.”
The search team was shortly joined by UPDF soldiers commanded by one Lt. Col James Lubega of Kyeterekera UPDF Battalion in Kagadi.
One UPDF soldier Cpl Moses Amodoi sighted the lion and tried to shoot it. Sensing danger, the furious wild animal ferociously attacked Amodoi, seriously injuring him in the process.
Another UPDF soldier nearby shot the lion dead to save Amodoi.
Interestingly, as soon as the lion was shot dead, communities which were in pursuit of the animal quickly skinned it and shared the meat.
UWA staff’s pleas to handle the carcass fell on deaf ears before being overpowered by the crowd.
Government officials only managed to secure the skin and the head from the carcass which were taken to police for record purposes and further investigations.
UWA advised the public to desist from attacking problem animals, but instead report such cases on toll-free line 0800100960.
“Our problem animal capture unit is always on standby to handle such situations,” said UWA.
Cases of lions straying for game parks are common in Uganda.
In 2020, a team of rangers and soldiers from Uganda wildlife Authority and Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF were deployed in Katum East Village in Padibe East Sub-County in Lamwo district to hunt for stray lions.
The lions suspected to have strayed more than 140 kilometers from Kidepo Valley National Park invaded the area on Sunday night. The lions killed nine calves and injured three others belonging to a livestock farmer in separate attacks.
