A 13-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a chimpanzee attack in Kagadi District, renewing calls for urgent government intervention to address the long-running human-wildlife conflict in the area. Kemigisa Kobusinge, a resident of Karambi Cell, Nyamiti Ward in Muhorro Town Council, was attacked on Sunday at around 2:00 p.m. while collecting firewood with other children near Katyoobona Forest. She sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment at Boswill Medical Clinic in Muhorro Town Council.
Speaking from her hospital bed, Kemigisa recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying a chimpanzee suddenly emerged and attacked her as she gathered firewood. She said the other children raised an alarm, prompting nearby residents to rush to her rescue.
The attack comes barely a month after the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), working with Friends of Chimpanzees, relocated an aggressive male chimpanzee from Katyoobona Forest following repeated complaints from residents over attacks on people and destruction of property.
The chimpanzee, which weighed about 80 kilograms and was believed to lead a group living around the Muhorro-Katyoobona area, was transferred to the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre (UWEC) as part of efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Despite the relocation, residents say encounters with chimpanzees remain common and fear that attacks could continue unless more comprehensive measures are taken.
Ategeka Kyaligonza, a resident of Karambi Cell, said families in the area have lived in fear for years because of repeated chimpanzee attacks. He claimed that numerous children have been killed or injured over the years, although Uganda Radio Network could not independently verify the figures.
Kyaligonza said Kemigisa is the only surviving child in her family after four of her siblings were allegedly killed in separate attacks. “We need a lasting solution because our children are living in fear,” he said. Another resident, Joseph Kyalisiima, warned that unless urgent action is taken, more lives could be lost.
Ironically, the latest attack occurred as Uganda joined the rest of the world in marking World Chimpanzee Day on July 14, an occasion that highlights the importance of conserving chimpanzees while promoting peaceful coexistence between wildlife and communities living near forests.
Conservationists say the growing conflict is largely driven by shrinking chimpanzee habitats as forests are cleared for farming and settlement.
Swalley Kuteesa Kadoma, the Executive Director of Friends of Chimpanzees, said habitat destruction, poaching and increasing human encroachment have pushed chimpanzees closer to communities in search of food. He said Katyoobona Forest currently has about 15 chimpanzees, down from around 36 in previous years.
According to Kadoma, some chimpanzees have been killed by residents in retaliation following attacks, while others have migrated to neighbouring areas, including Nyabigata.
Julius Tumwesigye, the Uganda Wildlife Authority officer in charge of Kagadi, Kibaale, Kakumiro and parts of Kikuube and Kyenjojo districts, said last month’s relocation of the dominant male chimpanzee followed several reported incidents in which chimpanzees attacked residents, particularly children.
He appealed to residents not to retaliate by harming the remaining animals, warning that the chimpanzees could temporarily become more aggressive as they adjust to the loss of their leader.
Tumwesigye said UWA is also pursuing the gazettement of Katyoobona Forest as part of longer-term efforts to improve conservation and better manage human-wildlife conflict.
While residents acknowledge the recent relocation as a positive step, Sunday’s attack has reinforced calls for broader interventions, including stronger protection for communities living near forests, sustained conservation of chimpanzee habitats and long-term measures to reduce encounters between people and wildlife-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
