The family of a three year old baby girl, who was injured by a chimpanzee as she ferried water for domestic use in Kagadi District over the weekend, is demanding compensation from government.
The victim is baby Rosemary Kunihira, a daughter to Kyaligonza Businge a resident of Nyamiti cell in Muhorro Town council Kagadi District. She is currently admitted at Doctors clinic in Muhorro town.
The victim’s father, Kyaligonza Businge, said his daughter sustained multiple injuries on her stomach According to the victim’s mother, Omuhereza Mbabazi, the stray chimpanzee attacked the child on the way from the well to collect water for domestic use in Nyamiti cell in Muhorro Town council.
Mbabazi said her child was helped by colleagues who sounded an alarm which attracted other residents to join in searching for the victim.
“Unfortunately the animal had already injured her,” she said.
Mbabazi is asking for compensation from government as one way of paying the medical bills.
Sergeant Wilson Amanya, the Officer of Uganda Wild life Authority in charge of Kibaale, Kagadi and Kakumiro districts described the incident as unfortunate, but said the authority would not compensate the family.
“There is no provision in the law for us to compensate in such a case,” he said.
He explained that out of charity, they at times give a helping hand to the victims. Amanya, however, said UWA would dispatch a team to investigate the cause of the animal attack.
Dorothy Mulombe, the woman district councilor for Muhorro town council has asked the wildlife authority to relocate the chimpanzees to a gazetted wildlife areas authority or a national park.
John Byabagambi, a residents of Nyamiti cell says chimps attacks have become rampant but the government is silent.
He wants the government to expedite the relocation of chimpanzees from their area.
Cases of wild animals attacking children in Kagadi District have been common.
In June 2020, a -two and a half year -old infant, Kajura Ainebyoona was attacked by a stray ape at a maize plantation when about six children from the neighborhood were harvesting maize in the morning. The incident happened in Kyarwakya Village, Kamuroza parish in Kyanaisoke sub-county Kagadi district.
In June 2018, a five-month-old baby girl sustained severe wounds following an attack by stray chimpanzees in Kyamajaaka cell in Muhorro town Council.
The baby’s mother, Olive Kemigisha said more than 20 chimpanzees believed to have escaped from Kangombe forest reserve invaded the victim’s home in Kyamajaka cell in Kagadi town Council on Sunday afternoon and attacked her child.
Another incident happened in March 2021 when A stray Chimpanzee grabbed and injured a 6 year old Kellen Jarida, daughter to Annet Ganyira of Kyamajaka cell, Muhorro town council.