Eleven lions, including eight lion cubs, have been found dead in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda after possibly being poisoned, a conservation official said on Thursday.

The three lionesses and eight cubs were found dead near Hamukungu fishing village in the park, a popular tourist destination.

"An investigation has been opened but we suspect poisoning," Bashir Hangi, a communications officer with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), said.

"It is still only a suspicion. We will try to establish the real cause of death," he added.

Lions have been killed in a number of poisoning incidents in Uganda.