An elephant killed a 15-year-old pupil of Kyentija Primary School in Kanungu District on Friday morning. The victim, Clinton Birungi, was the son of Robert Kiiza, a resident of Kameme Village, Kibimbiri Parish, Kihihi Sub-county.
According to Kiiza, an elephant and its calf, having strayed from Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector about a week ago, entered his compound, located a few kilometers from the park. The animals destroyed a grass-thatched house where the family was sleeping. Kiiza said while the rest of the family stayed calm, Birungi panicked, jumped out of bed, and ran. The elephant chased and trampled him to death.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said authorities took the body to Kihihi Health Centre IV mortuary for a postmortem examination. Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers later guided the elephant and its calf back to the park.
