SAD! Chimpanzee kills five-month-old baby in Kagadi

Kagadi: Tragedy has struck Kahyooro B, Karuswiga Ward, Muhorro Town Council in Kagadi District, after a chimpanzee attacked and killed a five-month-old baby boy on Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred at around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday October 29, 2025, when the baby’s mother, Janet Kobusinge, and grandmother, Mary Nsungwa, were weeding beans near their home.

Nsungwa said the chimpanzee suddenly emerged from the nearby Katyoboona Forest Reserve, grabbed the infant, and fled into the forest. Residents immediately launched a search after the family raised an alarm, but the baby’s lifeless body was later found deep inside the forest.

The father, Rodgers Ahaisibwe, blamed the government for failing to properly manage chimpanzee habitats, saying this negligence has put communities at risk.

“Though I have lost my child, the government should intervene and reallocate the chimpanzees they are finishing our children,” Ahaisibwe said tearfully, appealing for compensation and support with burial expenses.

The LC3 Chairperson of Muhorro Town Council, Godfrey Nangonza, who joined residents in the search, expressed concern over the growing number of chimpanzee attacks and the slow response in compensating affected families.

He called on the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to expedite plans for establishing a wildlife sanctuary to reduce human–wildlife conflicts in the area.

Residents, still in mourning, said similar incidents have happened before but no permanent solution has been implemented. They warned that if government fails to act, they might be forced to protest or kill the chimpanzees in self-defense, claiming that Katyoboona Forest Reserve sits on private land.

By press time, police had visited the scene, conducted a postmortem examination, and handed over the body to the family for burial as investigations continue.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesperson, Bashir Hangi, confirmed the incident and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. He said UWA would investigate the matter and, if found that the attack occurred outside a protected area, the family would be compensated.

Hangi also emphasized the importance of community sensitization to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.