12-Year-Old Boy Succumbs to Crocodile Attack in Buyende

Tragedy struck in Buyende district, eastern Uganda, when a 12-year-old boy lost his life following a brutal crocodile attack on the shores of Lake Kyoga. Bashir Walubo, a resident of Iyingo village in Kagulu sub-county, was last seen on Wednesday evening.

Eyewitness accounts suggest Walubo was drawing water from the lake when a crocodile suddenly emerged and attacked him, inflicting critical wounds. Alert fishermen managed to intervene and rescue the boy from the reptile’s grasp.

He was initially taken to a local clinic for urgent care. His father, Ali Kalulu, reported that Walubo suffered severe injuries to his chest and abdomen and was in immense pain. From the clinic, he was referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for more advanced treatment.

However, the family faced a devastating obstacle: the inability to raise the necessary funds for transportation to the regional hospital. They were forced to return home with Walubo, and he tragically passed away while further medical assistance was being sought.

This incident highlights the ongoing dangers posed by crocodiles in the area. Michael Kange of the Iyingo Beach Management Committee noted that two similar attacks occurred late last year, though both victims survived. Kange appealed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to demarcate dangerous zones, establish clear safety protocols, and implement better warning systems for communities living near Lake Kyoga.

Local residents are now calling for heightened public awareness campaigns and proactive measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict around the lake, hoping to prevent future tragedies.

Read more on The Observer (Uganda): https://observer.ug/news/boy-12-dies-after-crocodile-attack-in-buyende