Kagadi, Uganda — A five-month-old baby boy was killed on Wednesday morning in Kahyooro B, Karuswiga Ward, Muhorro Town Council, Kagadi District, after being attacked by a chimpanzee.
The incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. on October 29, 2025, while the baby’s mother, Janet Kobusinge, and grandmother, Mary Nsungwa, were weeding beans near their home. Nsungwa said a chimpanzee suddenly emerged from the nearby Katyoboona Forest Reserve, grabbed the infant, and fled into the forest. Despite an immediate search by residents, the baby’s lifeless body was later found deep inside the forest.
The father, Rodgers Ahaisibwe, criticized the government for failing to properly manage chimpanzee habitats, saying the negligence has placed communities at risk. “Though I have lost my child, the government should intervene and reallocate the chimpanzees. They are endangering our children,” he said, appealing for compensation and support with burial arrangements.
Godfrey Nangonza, the LC3 Chairperson of Muhorro Town Council, expressed concern over the growing number of chimpanzee attacks and the slow response in supporting affected families. He urged 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, reported that similar incidents have occurred before, but no permanent solutions have been implemented. They warned that failure to act could lead to protests or even retaliatory actions against the chimpanzees, noting that Katyoboona Forest Reserve sits on private land.
Police visited the scene, conducted a postmortem examination, and handed the body over to the family for burial as investigations continue.
Bashir Hangi, spokesperson for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), confirmed the incident and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. He said UWA would investigate the matter and compensate the family if the attack occurred outside a protected area.
Additional Reporting by Ug Reports
