UWA Dismisses Teso Leopard Sightings, Attributes Panic to Stray Dogs

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has officially dismissed growing reports of a leopard invasion across the Teso sub-region. According to wildlife officials, comprehensive investigations have revealed that stray dogs, rather than wild felines, are responsible for recent livestock attacks and suspicious footprints reported by local residents.

Speaking to residents of Kichinjaji Ward in Soroti City East Division, UWA veterinary officer Dr. Joshua Lubega stated that investigators spent nearly a week inspecting multiple sub-counties, stretching from Soroti City to Amuria. The team examined various sites where sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry were reportedly attacked.

“I can say, substantially, there is no leopard in Soroti because we have gathered enough evidence that points to dogs, especially stray dogs,” Dr. Lubega explained. He noted that traps set by the authority successfully captured dogs at the scenes, while footprints analyzed across all visited areas belonged strictly to canine species.

Addressing viral social media claims and alleged university sightings, UWA Communications Officer Suleiman Musau revealed that some circulated images were artificially generated using AI. He added that drone surveillance and overnight traps failed to detect any wild cats, urging communities to remain calm and cautious when encountering unfamiliar animals.

Despite UWA’s conclusions, Soroti University Public Relations Officer Juma Hassan Nyene maintained that the institution genuinely spotted leopards roaming near the administration block. Mr. Nyene insisted that the university’s CCTV systems captured the animals, suggesting they may have simply migrated to another location rather than proving the reports were fabricated.

Read the full report on the Daily Monitor.