BY ; our reporter

A 45-year-old charcoal burner has been killed by an elephant in Kiryandongo District after reportedly entering Murchison Falls National Park illegally.

The deceased has been identified as Paul Mutoro, a resident of Kihora Village in Kyakende Sub-county. He was allegedly trampled to death over the weekend.

Residents say Mutoro, together with Amos Omuga, 44, and Gibson Lyakenyi, 40, had gone to collect charcoal they had reportedly burned inside the park. The incident is said to have occurred on Saturday April 4, 2026 at around 8:00 PM.

It is alleged that as the trio was returning from the park, they encountered an elephant which chased them, killing Mutoro on the spot, while the other two managed to escape.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Wilson Kagoro, a conservation officer with the Uganda Wildlife Authority attached to the park, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to repeated calls.

However, Solomon Mugisa, the Albertine Region Community Liaison Officer and acting regional police spokesperson, confirmed the incident. He said police visited the scene and conveyed the body to Kiryandongo Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.

Mugisa added that the two survivors have since been arrested and are being held at Kiryandongo Central Police Station. They are expected to be arraigned in court to face charges of illegal entry into the national park.

He urged community members to refrain from illegal activities such as charcoal burning, deforestation, and poaching in protected areas, noting that wildlife plays a vital role in tourism and the national economy.

Mugisa also advised the public to access the park legally, in the company of authorized rangers, and to support conservation efforts for future generations.