A 20-year-old bull elephant had claimed Bukatu Village in Kamwenge District as its own, unsettling residents who said it had long outstayed its welcome.
After five months of repeated appeals, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) finally intervened, arriving fully equipped to relocate the animal to Kibale National Park.
A month after the elephant’s successful relocation, Wild News Channel revisited the story; UWA officials at Kibale National Park confirmed it was alive and well. This then shifted focus on the hands that rescued the elephant.
I kept thinking that if elephants could speak, it would not be words they offered first, but memory of hands that guided them from danger, of voices that soothed their fear, of those who chose to save rather than turn away. In memory’s silence, would he see his heroines in the women who chose to save him?
From Bukatu Village in Kamwenge District to the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala, the story of the elephant is carried in the hearts of women.
For months, Rosette Orikiriza’s voice traveled across distances, calling, insisting, and urging action for the elephant’s removal. When officers and villagers finally gathered in Bukatu, she moved effortlessly among them, shifting roles with quiet strength, organizing, offering food, and grounding the tense moment in simple acts of care.
With an infectious smile, she tended to hungry souls, asking what she could serve. In doing so, she transformed the four-day pursuit of the elephant into something more humane and purposeful.
As councillor for Mpanga North in Kahugye Sub-County, Kamwenge, Orikiriza stood firmly among those calling on Uganda to safely capture the wandering giant and guide it away from Bukatu.
I was fortunate to move in the company of two remarkable women: Scovia Musiimenta, the UWA communications officer, and Amito Naumi, who drove us. Musiimenta kept the world connected in real time, sharing updates on social media as events unfolded.
UWA human-wildlife conflict officer onsite
Sharon Nuwahereza, UWA’s human-wildlife conflict officer, works mostly at the strategic level, shaping responses to human-wildlife conflict, yet on the ground she never faltered. When the elephant was finally darted, she broke into a quiet dance of relief, joy spilling through the tension. Step by step, she followed as it was lifted by the crane, and she stood among those who secured it onto the bed of the truck.
“As I stood amid the controlled chaos of the darting operation, adrenaline coursed through me. The moment the tranquilizer took effect and the majestic elephant gently sank into sleep, I felt an overwhelming surge of relief and awe,” Nuwahereza recalled.
“It was my first time being part of such an intense yet vital conservation effort. The team’s precision, calm coordination, and deep expertise were a powerful reminder of the commitment required to protect these gentle giants.”
Reflecting on the elephant’s translocation to Kibale National Park, Nuwahereza described the experience as unforgettable. “Witnessing the seamless coordination, the care taken in handling the elephant, and the joy of seeing it step into its new habitat was deeply moving. It filled me with both pride and elation. There was a real sense of accomplishment—we had given this magnificent animal a second chance to thrive in a safer environment.”
She added that the mission underscored the power of teamwork and shared purpose. “Its success highlights the importance of collaboration, dedication, and trust. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of a team so deeply committed to safeguarding Uganda’s wildlife heritage.”
Guarding UWA’s lifeline
Florence Imbi, a ranger at Murchison Falls National Park, leaves a lasting mark when duty calls. When the storm broke, she shielded the vital drone indoors, soaking in rain as she sought cover.
That drone gave the team its aerial edge in the search for the stray elephant. Even then, she kept careful notes for her supervisor, Dr. Joshua Lubega, the park’s veterinarian, later shaping them into the report that told the story of the capture.
On-ground first aid response
Gracious Akello, a laboratory technician, moved with quiet urgency—swift, precise, and always where she was needed most. During the elephant operation, she became a steady presence amid the strain.
When Dr. Joshua Lubega was struck by dart spikes while attempting to tranquilize the animal, she treated him first, removing the thorns and restoring calm where pain had taken hold.
When the elephant finally succumbed to sedation, she was among the first at its side, closely monitoring its breathing and recovery. Step by step, she guarded the fragile line between risk and survival until the animal rose and returned to Kibale National Park. She stood among those who cheered, not in triumph, but in quiet relief.
Her steady hands later found and removed a stubborn spike buried deep in the writer’s leg. “Are you okay?” she asked calmly amid the chaos. The answer was simple: yes.
In that moment, one truth stood clear. Fieldwork is measured not by gender, but by grit. The women of UWA proved it without fanfare, meeting the challenge with resolve, step by steadfast step.
Stewardship
Dr. Mercy Chagala, a UWA veterinary doctor based at Queen Elizabeth National Park, took part in every briefing with the team led by Dr. Victor Musiime. She helped shape decisions on the ground as plans unfolded. In the field, she moved with precision, examining the elephant’s eyes and ears, reading its health. Chagala was among UWA officials who were excited as the elephant rose and made its way into Kibale.
