The unfriendly interaction between communities living around Queen Elizabeth national park in Kasese district and lions from the park has worsened, with residents vowing to use their domestic hunting dogs to go against the big cats, accusing them of eating their livestock.
The most recent events played out in September and October 2025 when lions strayed from the park and killed three cows belonging to Mr. Paul Rusanganwa, and goats belonging to Mr. Micheal Katiya, residents of phase 11 cell, Scheme ward, Nyamwamba division, Kasese municipality.
It is against this background that the residents have mobilized themselves against the stray animals.
Mr. Jackson Mbabu, a neighbor of the park, who has also lost his livestock to the blood-thirsty big cats says Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has been informed of the development and tasked to respond as soon as possible before the locals take action.
“In case they don’t come within three days, we are going to hunt these lions down and kill them and we shall not be held responsible for killing a lion. Of course, we are observing the law, that’s why we are inviting UWA to come and see what is happening,” Mr. Mbabu told Tayari
The affected locals hold that lion invasions have robbed them of their income sources and they should be compensated by the government.
“Out of these goats, I expected to get money and pay school fees for my children, but see how I am losing everything. I ask the government to keep animals in the park and also compensate me for the goats that have been eaten by the lions,” said Mr. Katiya
They want the government to fast-track erection of an electric fence around the park to keep communities safe from dangerous animals.
The human-wildlife conflict problem has prevailed due to human expansion into wildlife spaces, leading to crops destruction, livestock predation, injuries and deaths around Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Originally founded as Kazinga National Park in 1952, Queen Elizabeth National park was renamed in 1954 to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II of England. The park stands as one of Africa’s greatest wildlife havens, home to over 95 mammal species and bird species. It is a home to big game animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Uganda kobs, and waterbucks, and predators like lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and side-striped jackals, among others.
UWA speaks out
Uganda Wildlife Authority head of Public Relations, Mr. Hangi Bashir said the authority was aware of lion invasions in the communities around the park.
“We are aware of the animals that moved outside the park. The communities notified us and we sent our teams on the ground to ensure that people are safe and also the animals are safe,” said Mr. Hangi, explaining that the team was on the ground to bring the situation under control.
“Our team is on the ground to ensure that the lions don’t cause havoc to anyone and the communities do not mobilize themselves and attack the lions. They should not even think of hunting lions with dogs because this is more dangerous. The team will ensure as soon as possible to push the lions back into the park.” Hangi told Tayari