Uganda Wildlife Authory (UWA) has come out to respond to the onging rumor of a that a boda boda man was eaten by lions as he was trying to transport his matooke through a game park.
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Our attention has been drawn to a video clip and still images circulating on various social media platforms showing a boda boda man close to a pride of lions and commentary that he was eaten by the lions.
We would like to clarify as follows;
On Monday July 10, 2023 a gentleman was carrying Matooke (Bananas) on a motorcycle from Rubirizi district to Kasenyi in Kasese district through Queen Elizabeth National Park.
He was initially warned by our guides to avoid using that route through the park because a pride of six lions had been sighted in the area and his safety could not be guaranteed.
When our guides left, he insisted and used the route, upon sighting tourist vehicles, he tried to follow them thinking he would hide behind the vehicle and pass without being sighted by the lions or by the time the lions see him, he would be far and they wouldn’t chase him.
Unfortunately, when he reached the tourist vehicles, they were stationed and tourists were taking pictures of the lions that had come to the road.
When he attempted to hidebehind the vehicles, the lions were also taking shelter around the vehicles and others under the vehicles.
At this stage, the boda boda man had entered a critical zone of the lions, they scared him and he jumped on one of the tourist vehicles.
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Therefore, the man was not eaten by the lions as alleged on various social media platforms.
While UWA endeavors to protect all visitors to our national parks, this protection does not extend to those who enter the parks without the knowledge of park management.
Therefore, the security of such persons cannot be guaranteed.
The public hereby warned against entering the parks illegally.
Entering a wildlife protected area without permission from the authority is an offence. We will continue to sensitize the communities on the probable risks of such adventure
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