Students and staff have been urged to remain cautious as wildlife officers investigate reports of leopard sightings on the university campus amid growing concern over human-wildlife encounters in the region.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has deployed a team to Soroti University following reports that three leopards were spotted on campus, raising fresh concerns about the safety of students, staff and surrounding communities.
The reported sighting prompted security personnel to alert university management and advise students and staff to avoid moving around the campus as wildlife officers worked to establish the animals’ whereabouts.
According to reports from the university, CCTV footage captured three leopards near the administration block, triggering concern among members of the university community.
Some students and staff reportedly sought shelter in hostels and other buildings as security officers circulated warnings through internal communication platforms.
James, a security guard at the institution, said security personnel responded by alerting senior officers and university administrators after receiving information about the animals.
The incident has added to concerns in Soroti, where leopard sightings have reportedly been recorded in parts of the district over the past three months.
UWA begins assessment and tracking operation
Soroti University Public Relations Officer Juma Hassan Nyene said the university contacted UWA after receiving reports of the animals on campus.
He told Daily Express that wildlife officers responded and were working to locate the leopards.
“They are currently on the ground, and they are doing whatever is possible within their line of profession to track down the leopards,” Nyene said.
UWA later acknowledged the reports in a statement posted on X on Friday, November 6, confirming that its team had been deployed to assess the situation and take appropriate action.
The authority urged residents to remain calm and avoid approaching or attacking the animals.
The deployment comes amid reports linking the leopards to a fatal attack on a man in Gweri Sub-county earlier in the week. However, the circumstances surrounding that incident and the animals’ involvement require confirmation from the relevant authorities.
Students express concern over campus safety
The reported presence of the animals has unsettled students, some of whom say they are reluctant to resume normal movements around the university until the situation is resolved.
Harriet Aguti, a student at Soroti University, said she received distress calls from colleagues who were concerned about the reported leopard sightings.
She said she would not return to campus until there was confirmation that the animals had been captured.
“Until they are captured, I will not show up at the university,” Aguti said.
The concerns come as university security personnel continue advising members of the institution to exercise caution while UWA conducts its assessment.
Authorities raise concerns over wildlife movements
Stephen Omoding, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Soroti City, said the leopards had reportedly been moving through parts of the region for close to three months.
He said previous attempts by UWA teams to track the animals had not fully resolved the situation, leaving residents concerned about possible encounters.
Omoding also suggested that the animals could have strayed from Kidepo Valley National Park, alongside buffaloes reportedly moving through communities in search of water.
He said buffalo sightings had also been reported in Katakwi, Kapelebyong, Abim and Agago districts.
Authorities have called for intensified efforts to locate the leopards, particularly following the reported fatal incident in Gweri.
Public urged to avoid confronting the animals
UWA’s warning against approaching or attacking the leopards comes as wildlife officers assess the situation.
Residents and members of the university community are being urged to follow official safety guidance and report sightings to the relevant authorities rather than attempting to chase or harm the animals.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the challenges of human-wildlife interaction in communities near wildlife habitats, where the movement of wild animals can create safety concerns for people and livestock.
For Soroti University, the immediate priority remains the safety of students, staff and visitors as wildlife officers work to establish the animals’ location and determine the appropriate response.