Residents of Kyazanga Sub- County in Lwengo district are living in fear after a series of violent hippo attacks.
The latest victim is Hafizu Ssekitto, who was seriously injured while fetching water from a well.
Ssekitto, a resident of Lubaale village, sustained severe injuries after he was attacked by a stray hippo.
He suffered a broken femur bone and a fractured arm in the incident.
The attack has left him hospitalised, and his condition has raised alarm within the community.
The attack on Ssekitto is the latest in a string of similar incidents that have plagued the area in recent weeks.
Villages such as Lubaale, Mpumudde, Kabingo, and Kirumba in Lyakibiriizi parish have been particularly affected, with hippos not only attacking people but also destroying crops.
This has compounded the already difficult situation caused by the ongoing dry spell, which has led to widespread food shortages.
“We are afraid to go out, especially to the wells or fields. The animals have become a danger,” says one of the affected residents.
Local leaders, led by Alfred Behoora, the chairperson of Kyazanga Sub-county, are urging the district security committee and national wildlife authorities to step in urgently to address the issue.
The hippos are believed to have wandered from Kacheera Lake in Rakai district. They are now a threat to our lives and our livelihoods. We need help before we lose more people.
As the hippos continue to roam the area, residents have been forced to remain indoors for their safety, disrupting normal daily activities like farming and water collection.
Many fear the hippos’ presence will lead to further injuries or even fatalities if action is not taken soon.
The community is now calling on Ibrahim Kitatta, the Lwengo District Chairman, and other local leaders to urgently find a solution to the problem before the situation escalates further.
With the involvement of local and national authorities, residents hope that a solution can be found before more lives are lost to these giant mammals.
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