Two fishermen were attacked by hippos on the shoreline of Lake Albert in Kibaale district the previous week while returning from fishing. Wilson Monday and his colleague are now admitted to hospital after being attacked by the hippos.
A number of fishermen have been killed by hippos in this lake and according to the fishermen in the area, 21 people have been killed in the last one year though Francis Gwazo the district fisheries officer said that the killings were for over two years. Some of the fishermen killed were identified by the information secretary of Kabukanga landing site Richard Sunday Kabila as Fred Kanyaihamba, John Kadoma, Wilson Byaruhanga, Alex Twinomugisha, Gabi Onega, Chapakazi Onega, Vincent Safari, Wako Chan, George Weki, Saturday Twikirize, Topher Jalwin, Philimon Timasakira, Gerald Amis, Kosta Ntanda, Godfrey Mugisa, Joseph Sanyu, Jackson Mumbere ,Matiasi Bizimana and were people from Kabukanga site , Kitebere, Kamina, Rwebigongoro, Nyamasoga all located in Kibaale district.
The killings have annoyed the fishermen therefore they have threatened to beat up the Uganda Wildlife Authority officials from Ntoroko station because they keep saying that the hippos have to be protected instead of killing them.
The conservation manager at Murchison Falls Tom Okello Obbo said the Uganda Wildlife Authority couldn’t allow the killing of the hippos because they fertilize the water for the fish to breed therefore contribute to the fish in the lake. He added that the fertilizers have led to the continuous fishing business so the authority was planning to teach the fishermen on how to live with the animals in peace because in the hippos’ area, there is always a lot of fish.
