By Nathan Eyagu

SOROTI CITY – Lawyer and activist Joshua Okello has threatened to take the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to court over what he describes as gross negligence following the reported presence of a leopard at Soroti University.

Okello's threatened legal action comes amid growing concern over the safety of students, university staff and residents in neighbouring communities after a leopard was reportedly spotted within the university premises.

The incident has raised questions about the preparedness and response of the wildlife authority in managing dangerous animals that stray into human settlements and public institutions.

Questioning UWA's handling of the situation, Okello argues that the agency has a responsibility to protect communities from dangerous wildlife and should be held accountable for any failure to respond effectively.

He has particularly expressed concern over the potential consequences of the leopard encountering students, questioning whether the wildlife authority would take responsibility if the animal had attacked and killed someone.

Beyond the university premises, reports indicate that the same leopard has been terrorising nearby homesteads, with residents alleging losses of domestic animals, including goats.

The situation has heightened anxiety among students and surrounding communities, with fears that the animal could pose a serious threat to human safety if it remains at large.

Okello's threatened lawsuit is expected to focus on UWA's statutory responsibility to manage wildlife and respond to incidents involving dangerous animals that threaten human life and property.

However, the proposed legal action remains a threat, with no indication that a court case has formally been filed.

Meanwhile, students and residents are awaiting an effective intervention by UWA to locate and capture the leopard before the situation escalates into a human-wildlife tragedy.

The incident has renewed attention on the challenges of human-wildlife conflict and the need for timely intervention by responsible authorities, particularly when dangerous animals enter populated areas and public institutions.