Two people are battling for their lives after a stray hippopotamus attacked them in Kasese District. The incident occurred in Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Municipality, when the animal, believed to have wandered from Queen Elizabeth National Park, left 56-year-old Owe John and 17-year-old Junior Bwambale severely injured.

The victims and their families are now calling on the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for immediate support and medical assistance.

After the tragic incident, Owe John one of the victims was rushed to Canopus Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Uganda Limited. He recounted how the hippopotamus attacked him in the afternoon as he was returning from his garden.

Owe, who is now nursing serious injuries in the hospital and is the sole breadwinner for his family, fears that his household could face starvation and other hardships. He says the Uganda Wildlife Authority has not yet offered him any support.

Meanwhile, Lucia Kapamba, the mother of 17-year-old Bwambale Junior, recounted the horrifying moment her son was gored in the stomach by a stray hippo, leaving his internal organs exposed.

He is currently hospitalized in critical condition at Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital. Kapamba has called on the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to cover all medical expenses necessary to save her son’s life.

Some Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) staff who responded to the scene reportedly killed the hippo. Confirming the incident, Bashir Hanji, UWA’s Communications Officer, expressed sympathy for the affected families and assured them that UWA would cover all medical expenses and provide the mandatory compensation as per policy.

He further explained that, despite ongoing efforts such as the installation of electric fences human–wildlife conflict continues to pose a significant challenge for communities living near protected areas.