Three-Month-Old Baby Killed by Chimpanzee near Budongo Forest

Communities near Budongo forest reserve in Masindi District are facing repeated threats from stray chimpanzees, with a three-month-old baby girl killed over the weekend in Wiliya Village after being snatched by the primate. The child’s mother, together with other women, had gone to collect firewood near the forest when the chimpanzee emerged from a nearby bush and grabbed the baby, according to information gathered by Media.

Joyce Kusemererwa, an eyewitness, said the mother had stopped to breastfeed the baby when the chimpanzee attacked. “We sounded an alarm that attracted other area residents who pursued the chimpanzee. It dropped the child after being scared, but the baby had already sustained critical injuries,” Kusemererwa explained. The child’s father, Julius Birija, said he was at work when he received news of the attack. Eunice Candiru, a resident, added that several people in the area have previously lost their lives or suffered injuries due to chimpanzee invasions, which also destroy crops.

Vincent Kajik said the baby was rushed to a nearby clinic but was pronounced dead on arrival. Hannington Andama, Wiliya LCI Chairperson, condemned the incident and criticized the delayed action by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in addressing repeated chimpanzee invasions.

Budongo Sub-County LC3 Chairperson Julius Kyahurwa called for urgent intervention from UWA, noting that several children have been attacked or killed by stray chimpanzees in the area. He criticized the government and wildlife authorities for failing to manage chimpanzee habitats properly, putting communities at risk.

Wilson Kagoro, Warden for Community Conservation at Murchison Falls National Park, said a team had been dispatched to investigate the incident. This attack comes just two weeks after a one-year-old girl, Promise, was critically injured by a chimpanzee in Kidukuru Cell, Kitoba Sub-County, Hoima District. The chimpanzee reportedly emerged from degraded forest reserves in Kitoba and Kyabigambire sub-counties while the child played outside. 

She sustained severe injuries to her head, stomach, legs, and hand and was rushed to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. Similar incidents have occurred previously. In March 2023, a two-month-old baby, Aroho Ahumuza, was killed by a chimpanzee in Kagadi while her mother was on the way to harvest cassava.