news 25 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Tragedy in Agago as Stray Buffaloes from Kidepo Kill Farmer

A 36-year-old farmer in Agago District was gored to death by stray buffaloes from Kidepo Valley National Park amid an ongoing human-wildlife conflict. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/buffaloes-take-over-agago-villages-kill-one-5645600

A wave of fear has gripped communities in Agago District following an incident where a herd of wild buffaloes strayed from Kidepo Valley National Park into local villages. The wild animals, numbering around ten, have been roaming through community lands in search of water and pastures driven by prolonged drought conditions.

Tragedy struck in Akwang Village, Paimol Sub-county, when a 36-year-old local farmer, Mr Richard Olwoch, was attacked. According to Agago District Chairperson Mr Wilson Otto, a subgroup of six buffaloes gored the farmer to death around 4 pm on Saturday.

Mr Otto noted that Mr Olwoch’s death brings the number of fatalities caused by stray wildlife in the district to half a dozen within the span of just a year. Local leaders have begun sensitizing residents on safety measures while actively engaging the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to drive the animals back to conservation areas.

Human-wildlife conflicts have been an escalating concern in the region. In 2024, President Yoweri Museveni directed UWA to erect an electric fence around Kidepo Valley National Park to stop animals from invading community lands, destroying crops, and threatening lives.

Recently, State Minister for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Beatrice Akello Akori urged UWA to expedite compensation for farmers affected by stray elephants and to fast-track the installation of the barrier. The government previously allocated Shs 10 billion to UWA specifically for the boundary electric fence project.