By Mariam Nanyanzi Kyagulanyi
Panic has gripped staff and students of Soroti University in Soroti City after three leopards were spotted near the institution.
This prompted the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to deploy a team to track the animals and assess the situation.
The animals were captured by the university’s security cameras on Wednesday evening, with reports of their presence emerging on social media on Friday morning.
In a statement issued on Friday, Soroti University management said its surveillance cameras had captured the three animals near the institution, adding that a UWA team had been deployed to track them.
“Our security cameras last evening captured three Leopards in the vicinity of Soroti University. The team from Uganda Wildlife Authority is on the ground to track them,” the university said.
The institution urged residents and members of the surrounding community to remain calm ,but vigilant and report any sightings of wild animals to the relevant authorities.
“We urge the public to stay calm ,but alert and report to the authorities whenever wild animals are sighted,” the university said.
UWA also confirmed receiving reports of leopard sightings near the university, saying its team was already on the ground assessing the situation and taking appropriate action.
“We have received reports of leopard sightings near Soroti University in Soroti City. Our team is already on the ground assessing the situation and taking appropriate action,” the authority said.
The wildlife authority cautioned residents against approaching or attacking the animals as its team works to establish their whereabouts.
“We urge the public to remain calm, avoid approaching or attacking the animals,” UWA added.
The sightings have raised questions about whether the animals could have moved from Kidepo Valley National Park, which is home to a population of African leopards.
However, authorities have not established where the animals originated from or how they ended up near the university.
Kidepo Valley National Park, located in northeastern Uganda, supports more than 86 mammal species, including leopards, lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas.
Leopards are among the park’s predators and are commonly found around rocky ridges, wooded areas and dry riverbeds, where they seek shelter and hunt.
The Narus Valley is one of the park’s main wildlife-viewing areas, with early morning and late evening game drives offering opportunities to spot the elusive cats.
Reports also circulated on social media alleging that a leopard had been sighted in Kaberamaido Town about a week ago, although it remains unclear whether that incident involved the animals now reported near Soroti University.