Fisherman killed in Hippopotamus attack on River Nile
Four artisanal fishermen survived the ordeal by clinging to the wreckage of the overturned vessel.
Pakwach: A tragic human-wildlife encounter on the River Nile turned fatal when a hippopotamus capsized a fishing vessel near Pawobo Village, Paroketo Parish, Pakwach Sub-County. The incident claimed the life of the boat’s operator.
Four artisanal fishermen survived the ordeal by clinging to the wreckage of the overturned vessel. The survivors were identified as Kumakech Solomon (19), Okecha Andrew (17), Owachigiu Ronald (22) all residents of Packech South and East villages in Jonam and Abati Sunday, whose age was not disclosed.
According to SP Collins Asea, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, the attack occurred around 4:00 PM on Wednesday April 23, 2025 as the group was returning from a fishing trip.
“At approximately 1600 hours, the vessel, carrying five artisanal fishermen, crossed paths with a submerged hippopotamus, prompting an aggressive reaction that capsized the craft,” Asea stated.
“The group unknowingly traversed the animal’s position, causing it to lift the vessel, leading to the operator’s loss of control and subsequent drowning.”
Local authorities, including SOCO D/Cpl Tairi Amin, assessed the scene. The deceased, who remains unidentified, was retrieved and transported to Pakwach Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination.
While hippopotamuses play a crucial ecological role in Uganda’s aquatic systems by aiding in nutrient cycling, their territorial behavior frequently puts them at odds with fishing communities along the Nile.
Wildlife experts emphasize that hippo attacks are more likely during daylight hours particularly in breeding or foraging zones when the animals rest submerged. Boats that unknowingly come too close are often perceived as threats, prompting defensive, and sometimes deadly, responses.
“We recommend maintaining a minimum distance of 50 meters from known hippo pods and avoiding frequent aggregation sites,” advised a wildlife conflict mitigation officer.
According to Uganda Wildlife-Human Conflict Data (2018–2023) Hippopotamus attacks account for 10–15 fatalities annually, with 2–3 cases each year in Pakwach District, mainly involving artisanal fishermen, Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) attacks result in 5–10 deaths annually, Elephant (Loxodonta africana) conflicts, mostly due to crop raiding, lead to approximately 3–5 fatalities each year.
Following the incident, local authorities began engaging with the community to raise awareness about wildlife behavior and promote safer fishing practices along the River Nile.
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