2 Dead After Eating Fox Meat

Two people are confirmed dead after they reportedly ate Fox meat in Kyangwali Sub County, Hoima district.

 

The duo has been identified as Joseph Opio and Expedito Tumusiime, all residents of Ngurwe village in Kasonga parish. Fredrick Byenume, the Hoima district Health Inspector, says the two, both in their 20s, died on Wednesday a day after eating Fox meat.

 

Byenume explains that the villagers hunted down the wild animal on Monday after it bit two other locals. After killing it on Tuesday, they roasted its meat and ate it.

 

Quoting relatives, Byenume says shortly after eating the two developed stomach complications. They were rushed to Kituti health center where Joseph died. The other victim, Expedito died on his way to Mulago hospital where he was referred on Wednesday.

 

Byenume says four other people, of the 50 who ate the meat are also admitted at Kituti health centre complaining of stomach pain.

 

The District Health Inspector however says medics are investigating the exact cause of death, since fox meat is not known to be dangerous to humans. Byenume describes the condition of those still admitted as stable. He reveals that the patients are being given painkillers.

 

//Cue in: “Of course the fox…

Cue out: …they will survive.”//

 

The act by residents to feed on Fox meat has left health officials and local leaders surprised. Rwemera Mazirane, the Kyangwali Local Council 3 Chairman, says it is his first time to hear that Fox meat is a delicacy to some people in his area.

 

Kyangwali plays host to people from almost all the regions in Uganda as well as the neighbouring neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The Sub County also hosts one of Uganda’s largest refugee camps, Kyangwali Refugee Settlement Camp.

 

Two months ago, residents in the neighboring Kibaale district killed and feasted on a chimpanzee after it attacked and injured three people.