A 48 year old man is admitted at Hoima regional referral hospital nursing severe buttocks injuries after he was attacked by a hippopotamus.
Santos Obita, a fisherman and resident of Ssebigoro landing site in Kabwoya sub-county, Hoima district, was bitten by a hippopotamus on Saturday morning as he cast his nets in the waters of Lake Albert at Ssebigoro landing site.
He was rushed to Hoima regional referral hospital by his colleagues. Speaking to journalists on his sickbed on Monday afternoon, Obita explained that the animal bit him as he pushed his canoe into the waters to cast his nets.
Obita says he was pushing the canoe into the lake’s shallow waters when the animal got hold of him by the buttocks biting him four times as he tried to flee back to shore for safety.
He was rescued by his fellow fishermen who heard his alarm as he struggled to free himself from the jaws of the hippo.
Obita complains that he has not received any help from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Teddy Kawina, the in charge surgical ward where Obita is admitted, says the treatment given to him is to heal the wounds since the animal is not poisonous. Kawina explained that Obita has improved since admission on Saturday.
Obita is the second victim of hippo attack after the same animal attacked one Afaki, a lady fish monger, who was left nuring chest injuries. At the time of filing this story unconfirmed reports suggested that on Sunday evening the same animal might have attacked another fisherman.
Alpha Vincent Opio, the Kabwoya district councilor, says the hippopotamus has interrupted fishing activities at the landing sites of Kyevunda, Ssebigoro and Nyaiwaga in Kabwoya sub county as fishermen now fear for their lives.
Opio says he has already petitioned Uganda Wildlife Authority about the problem and that they have promised to come and track down the animal. Uganda Wildlife Authority officials were not available for comment by time of going to press.
