By URN
Leaders and residents in Hoima city are urging the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to immediately intervene and relocate a group of chimpanzees that have been invading villages and causing destruction for the past four months.
The chimpanzees have strayed into several villages, causing significant damage to crops and injuring residents. The most affected villages include Karongo, Bujwahya, Kihomboza, Budaka, Kyabalyanga, Rusembe, and Kibingo in Hoima West Division of Hoima City. The chimpanzees have been killing chickens and other animals, as well as destroying vital crops such as bananas, maize, cassava, jackfruit, and groundnuts.
Bonny Kato, the Male Councilor for Karongo ward, expressed concerns about the potential danger posed by the chimpanzees, especially to school-going children. He revealed that many children have dropped out of school due to fear of attacks by the animals. Kato has appealed to UWA to intervene immediately and relocate the chimpanzees.
Fred Ayesiza, the LC1 Chairperson for Rusembe Cell, confirmed that the chimpanzees have raided several homes in his area, destroying garden crops. Jackline Kyalisiima, a resident of Kyabalyanga, also raised concerns about the danger posed by the chimpanzees to human life, urging UWA to act before the situation worsens.
Edward Businge, the Council Speaker for Hoima West Division, revealed that despite seeking help from UWA rangers, their requests have been ignored, and the chimpanzees continue to wreak havoc.
Robert Ruhigwa, the LC3 Chairperson for Hoima West Division, added that many residents in his area have lost crops to the chimpanzees and are living in constant fear. Moses Semahunde, the project manager for the Bulindi Chimpanzee Community Project, acknowledged the chimpanzee invasion and clarified that the responsibility for relocating the animals lies with UWA.
He explained that the chimpanzees have wandered into the community due to the encroachment on their natural habitats. Semahunde advised residents to avoid provoking the animals and instead contact UWA for intervention.
The stray chimpanzees are believed to have come from the degraded forest reserves in Kitoba and Kyabigambire Sub-counties. This is not the first time such incidents have occurred. In December 2021, a chimpanzee attacked and critically injured a 5-year-old boy in Mparangasi village, Kyabigambire Sub-county.
The boy, Jonan Twine, was reportedly attacked while fetching water with his friends. In March 2023, a two-month-old baby girl was attacked and killed by a chimpanzee in Kagadi. The child, Aroho Ahumuza, was snatched from her mother while on her way to harvest cassava. The chimpanzee later abandoned the child in a nearby bush after inflicting severe injuries, and she later died from the wounds at Kagadi General Hospital.
