A five-month-old baby boy has died after being attacked by a chimpanzee in Kagadi District, in a shocking incident that has left the community in grief and fear. The attack happened on Wednesday morning in Kahyooro B Cell, Karuswiga Ward, Muhorro Town Council.
According to the mother, Janet Kobusinge, the tragedy unfolded as she was weeding her bean garden near their home while carrying the baby on her back. She narrates that a chimpanzee suddenly emerged from the nearby Katyoboona Forest, grabbed the baby, and bolted back into the forest reserve.
Despite Kobusinge’s desperate screams for help, the animal disappeared into the dense vegetation before residents could catch up. Moments later, the baby was found dead in the forest with severe injuries to the head, mouth, and chest.
Overwhelmed by grief, the child’s father, Rodgers Ahaisibwe, blamed the government and wildlife authorities for neglecting community safety and failing to manage chimpanzee habitats properly. He appealed for urgent government intervention, saying families living near forests are constantly living in fear.
Residents expressed outrage at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), accusing it of ignoring their repeated pleas to control the growing chimpanzee menace. They say the animals frequently raid homes and gardens, putting lives at risk.
Charles Kyomuhendo, another resident, said it is painful to see authorities prioritising wildlife protection over human lives.
The LCIII Chairperson of Muhorro Town Council, Godfrey Nangonza, who joined residents in the search, condemned the repeated chimpanzee invasions and the delayed action by UWA. He said communities have not only lost lives but also suffered the destruction of crops and livelihoods.
Police from Kagadi later visited the scene, conducted a postmortem examination, and handed the baby’s body to the grieving parents for burial arrangements. By press time, this evening, Uganda Radio Network (URN) had not obtained a comment from UWA officials.
This is not the first time such a tragedy has struck Kagadi. In March 2023, a two-month-old baby girl, Aroho Ahumuza, was attacked and killed by a chimpanzee in similar circumstances. The baby was snatched from her mother on her way to harvest cassava, and despite being rushed to Kagadi General Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries.
Earlier, in June 2022, a five-year-old boy, Mugabe Bikahwa, from Karuswiga Central Cell in Muhorro Town Council, survived with serious injuries after being attacked by a chimpanzee while fetching water with other children.
The repeated attacks have left communities in Kagadi living in constant fear, calling for urgent government action to protect human life while ensuring safe conservation practices.
***URN***