The territorial police in Katwe – Kabatoro, in Kasese, registered an incident of a hippo attack, after it grabbed a two year old boy, identified as Paul Iga, from the head and swallowed half of his body. The victim was attacked on the 04.12.2022, at around 3pm, while playing at their home in Rwenjubu cell, Lake Katwe – Kabatoro Town Council in Kasese District. The home is about 800meters from Lake Edward. This is the first such kind of incident where a hippo strayed out of the Lake Edward and attacked a young child.
It took the bravery of a one Chrispas Bagonza, who was nearby, to save the victim after he stoned the hippo and scared it, causing it to release the victim from its mouth. The victim was immediately rushed for treatment to a nearby clinic, for injuries on the hand and later transferred to Bwera Hospital for further treatment.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga confirms the incident.
“He recovered fully and was discharged, after receiving a vaccine for rabies. He was thereafter, handed over to the parents by police,” Enanga says and adds that although the hippo was scared back into the lake, all residents near animal sanctuaries and habitats, should know that wild animals are very dangerous.
“Instinctually, wild animals see humans as a threat and any interaction can cause them to act strangely or aggressively. We want to remind all residents of Katwe-Kabatooro Town Council, which is located within Queen Elizabeth National Park, to remain vigilant and always alert UWA rangers, about animals that have strayed into their neighbourhoods,” Enanga told journalists in Kampala yesterday.
