Crocodile mauls fisherman ‘fleeing’ from soldiers
Residents at the landing site claim that crocodiles are now a threat to people who fetch water on the banks of Lake Kyoga.
It was tragedy in Nakasongola District last week after a fisherman reportedly fleeing from soldiers of the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) on Lake Kyoga was mauled by a crocodile.
The district chairperson, Mr Sam Kigula, on Friday said Geoffrey Okawo, a resident of Kikalaganya Landing Site, was snatched by a crocodile that was hiding in the floating vegetation on the lake.
The deceased’s two friends escaped narrowly with minor injuries. Mr Robert Ssenyange, a resident, said they were yet to recover the deceased’s remains.
“We searched for the remains of the late, including his clothes but we found nothing. The crocodile grabbed Okawa’s left leg before dragging him into the water,” he said.
“The two surviving fishermen claim they were hiding from the soldiers after engaging in illegal fishing,” Mr Ssenyange added.
Okawa, a father of five and a sole bread winner, according to his wife Resty Nabunya, migrated from Kwania Sub-county in Apac District and settled at Kikalaganya Landing Site in 2013.
“We are now stranded as a family,” Ms Nabunya said.
Mr Jerom Okodel, a resident, claimed the three fishermen jumped off the boat after seeing FFU soldiers.
However, Capt Araali Rugumayo, the FPU spokesperson for Lake Kyoga operations, denied claims that they carried out an operation at Kikalaganya Landing Site on the fateful day.
“We received the news from local leaders but we were not at that location on Wednesday. It is true that we carry out regular patrols. These fishermen know that what they were doing is illegal. The fishing ban is not yet lifted. We advise the fishermen to be patient,” Capt Araali said in an interview on Friday.
Residents at the landing site claim that crocodiles are now a threat to people who fetch water on the banks of Lake Kyoga. They said recently, two mothers narrowly survived death when a crocodile chased them in Kisalizi Village.
“We call upon the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to come and hunt down these reptiles for possible relocation to the gazetted areas. The loss of one of our own is clear evidence that the crocodiles are present at Kikalaganyi Landing Site and many other parts of Lwampanga Sub-county,” a resident said.
On Saturday, the district chairperson said they have appealed to Uganda Wildlife Authority to track the crocodiles.
“Our people should remain calm and restrain themselves from entering the Lake Kyoga water for fishing. The ban is on and we do not want to get into more problems before the dates that were set to have the lake waters open for fishing, Mr Kigula said.
Mr Bashir Hangi, the UWA communications manager, told Daily Monitor in an interview that UWA Problem Animal Unit had been dispatched to Nakasongola to assess the situation.
“We get calls from many parts of the country yet the teams cannot be everywhere. For the Nakasongola incident, the teams have been dispatched to assess the situation,” Mr Hangi said on Saturday.
