PANIC IN HOIMA AS CHIMPANZEE ATTACKS MAN

By Yosam Gucwaki
www.mknewslink.com—
In Hoima

Residents of Kihomboza III village, Bujumbura division Hoima municipality have expressed their concern about the increased attacks from wild animals which affect both their lives and crops.

This was after a chimpanzee attacked and bit one Sylvester Isagara 64; a resident of the same area which shares boarders with Wampanga forest reserve, as he tried to rescue children and he is now nursing serious wounds on his arm at his home.

Isagara narrates that, the incident happened on 2nd April 2018 as he was attending to his tobacco garden when he heard an alarm from children who were attacked by the ape and responded only to be bitten by the chimpanzees several times before they fled away.

He said that although he managed to rescue the children and saved his life, he has not resumed work since then due to severe pain thus tasking Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA to compensate him.

Godfrey Winyi, also a resident, said that the Apes usually destroy their crops especially papaws, sugarcane, jackfruits among others.

Winyi, added that they no longer allow children or women to access water sources because the Apes have opened habitats in the trees found at natural water points.

Moses Semahunge, the project manager for Bulindi chimpanzee and community project said that they alerted Uganda World Life Authority about the people’s concern and they are waiting for response.

Semahunge however, attributed the attacks to increased deforestation thus creating competition for space, food, and shelter from chimpanzees.
This is not the first time people in Kihomboza being attacked by apes.
Source: www.mknewslink.com; a western Uganda news website.
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
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