The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has officially brought an end to days of heightened anxiety in the Teso sub-region, confirming that the mysterious predator threatening local communities and livestock was not a leopard, but a pack of stray dogs.
The decision to end the search comes after a dedicated UWA team conducted extensive field investigations and established that no wild big cats were roaming the area.
For the past several days, reports of a suspected leopard had sparked widespread fear across Soroti City, Soroti District, and Amuria District. Residents, worried about their personal safety and the security of their livestock, had reported sightings and attacks by a dangerous wild animal moving within their neighborhoods, particularly near Soroti University.
In response to the growing panic, UWA dispatched a specialized technical team led by Dr. Joshua Lubega, a veterinary officer based at the Murchison Falls Conservation Area, to track down the suspected beast and secure the community.
However, after days of tracking, physical assessments, and setting traps in key locations, the team concluded that the reports were a case of mistaken identity.
According to UWA, the investigation revealed that footprints left at the scenes of the reported attacks belonged to dogs, not leopards. Furthermore, the traps deployed by the wildlife officers yielded no wild cats.
Confirming the end of the operation, the Uganda Wildlife Authority issued a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account to reassure the public:
"Following reports of leopards near Soroti University, our team spent days investigating & engaging residents. We set traps but captured only domestic dogs, which we safely released. We have therefore withdrawn our team."
Dr. Lubega and his team confirmed that the animals responsible for threatening livestock in the region were indeed local stray dogs. UWA reported that all domestic dogs caught during the operation were safely released back into the community unharmed.
With the withdrawal of the UWA response team, the wildlife authority has urged local leaders and community members in the Teso sub-region to remain calm and report any sightings of wild animals.
