The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has withdrawn its team deployed to investigate reports of leopards near Soroti University after days of searching yielded no evidence of the wild cats.
The authority said its rangers had set traps and engaged residents in the area following reports of leopard sightings, but the only animals captured were domestic dogs, which were safely released.
“Following reports of leopards near Soroti University, our team spent days investigating and engaging residents. We set traps but captured only domestic dogs, which we safely released. We have therefore withdrawn our team,” UWA said in an update posted on X.
UWA spokesperson Bashir Hangi also shared photographs of the dogs captured during the operation, saying residents could not establish that they had actually seen a leopard.
“No one in the area could say for sure they’d seen a leopard. This should put an end to the panic among local residents,” Hangi said.
He added that the operation had ended and the teams would withdraw from the area.
In response to questions from members of the public, UWA said no leopard had been sighted during the operation but that its officers had been sensitising communities and encouraging residents to report any wild animal sightings.
“For now, no leopard has been sighted. We have been sensitising the communities all these days and encouraging them to report any wild animal sighting in the area. We remain on call,” the authority said.
The reports had raised concern among residents following claims that three leopards were moving near the university and had been linked to livestock attacks and a human death in neighbouring Gweri Sub-county.
However, the search did not establish the presence of leopards in the area. UWA’s withdrawal brings the operation to an end, although the authority says it remains available to respond to further reports of wildlife sightings.
