According to residents, the hippos come out of the lake at night and wreak havoc in their homes. The residents say the hippos have been straying in their gardens and homes for the last two consecutive months.
Stray hippopotamuses
from Lake Victoria have killed 7 cows, 5 goats and destroyed over 24 crop
gardens in Busime Sub-county in Busia district.
The hippos rampaged in Busime
and Lukaba villages, which are on the Lake Victoria shores.
According to residents, the hippos come out of
the lake at night and wreak havoc in their homes. The residents say the hippos have been
straying in their gardens and homes for the last two consecutive months.
Some of
those affected by the last attack are Esther Taaka Okwinyi, Joseph Ouma,
Charles Ochieno, Everlyn Were, and Ronald Mudibo.
They have called for
government intervention to save them from further destruction caused by the
hippos.
Samia Audio
Voxpop;
//Cue in; "ndaha bebeeho....
Cue out;....yaani sikuurosa yaaya"//
Hamphrence Syambi Obala, Lukaba village LC I Chairperson, says the hippopotamus
attacked two residents, killed 7 cows and destroyed several crop gardens.
Samia Audio
//Cue in: "lukongo lwange....
Cue out;.....gavumenti yituyambe,"//
Morgan Okuku Ohebera, the Busime village LC I, says their lives are at risk
because of the stray animals.
//Cue in: "Yiirihwiichanga niyi...
Cue out:....ebyo nibyo ebyange,"//
Willber Ojambo Pamba, the Busime Sub-county LC 3 chairperson has asked
residents to be more vigilant and report any attack for action as they wait
for government intervention.
//Cue in: “The gardens of....
Cue out;....rescue the situation,"//
Bashiri Hangi, the Spokesperson Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA appealed to residents
to avoid cultivating and grazing domestic animals near the lake shores since
they are grazing areas for hippopotamus.
Gabriel Mukisa
Freelancer