OBONGI, UGANDA –– Residents of Maduga South Village in Obongi District are living in a state of terror following a series of aggressive attacks by hippos, destroying crops and threatening livelihoods. The escalating human-wildlife conflict has prompted urgent intervention from the district’s highest office.
The crisis came to a head when a delegation from Gimara Sub-county, led by Chairperson Lomo George, formally petitioned the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka. The petition detailed the relentless terror inflicted by the animals and pleaded for immediate action to protect the community.
Responding swiftly to the community’s distress, RDC Hashaka immediately traveled to the affected area in Maduga South Village, Gopele Parish, to assess the situation firsthand.
Upon arrival, the RDC witnessed extensive evidence of the destruction. Large swathes of crops, a vital food and income source for the villagers, were trampled and consumed by the hippos. He listened to harrowing accounts from residents who now fear for their safety, especially when traveling near the water sources the hippos inhabit.
Sympathizing with the plight of the residents, RDC Hashaka took decisive action. He immediately placed a call to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) offices in Adjumani, demanding their urgent intervention.
“The community here is under siege, and their means of survival are being destroyed nightly,” stated RDC Hashaka during his assessment. “This is a serious threat to life and property that requires the expertise of the wildlife authorities. We have called upon UWA to come to the ground without delay to address this situation and provide a lasting solution.”
The community of Maduga South now waits anxiously for the response from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, hoping for a resolution that will allow them live without fear of attack from the dangerous animals.
