By Johnson Kanyesige
The Family of a three-month old boy who was recently attacked and injured by a chimpanzee is struggling to raise funds for the baby’s treatment.
The chimpanzee attacked a 13-year-old sibling who was carrying his three-month-old brother to their mother in the garden on Sunday. The animal overpowered the boy, grabbed the baby, and ran off with him to a nearby farm.
Majid Isingoma, the father of the victim Mubarak Ajuna and a resident of Butoole North cell in Karongo ward in Hoima West City Division told Spice FM on Wednesday that they have been forced to sell off their cow to raise 1.6 million shillings needed for the operation of their child.
Isingoma added that they haven’t initiated their demand for compensation from Uganda wildlife authority since they have not received any guidance on how to go about it.
Isingoma requests the government to intervene and take away the Chimpanzees from their area because all residents are at a risk of being attacked by the wild animals.
Amiina Kyomuhendo, the mother of the Child narrated that the Chimpanzee attacked their children when they were almost reaching in the garden.
Mubarak Ajuna was attacked on the morning of the Sunday, September 22 when he was being taken to breast feed by his 13-year-old brother to their mother.
He is currently admitted at Hoima regional referral hospital surgical ward where he is receiving treatment.
Moses Africa, the warden in charge of Kabwoya wildlife reserve said the parents of the victim should first report the incident to the police and later fill compensation forms.
He added that after the forms are filled, a team from UWA will visit them and evaluate the extent of damage caused by the chimpanzee.
